Lankan ‘deportation’ boy dies in mother’s arms in Netherlands

The terminally-ill 8-year-old boy who heard that he could stay in the Netherlands shortly before being deported back to Sri Lanka, has died, according to a message issued by his primary school.

In January, the director of Het Palet in the eastern town of Almelo highlighted the case of Abiram and his mother who were threatened with deportation. The case got a huge response from the Dutch public. Immigration Minister Gerd Leers then decided to use his discretionary powers to issue a residence permit to mother and child.

“We’ll never forget his sparkling eyes when he showed us the residence permit,” the school website writes. Abiram, who had a brain tumour, died in his mother’s arms on Tuesday.

The two came to the Netherlands seven years ago, after fleeing the civil war in Sri Lanka, Radio Netherlands reports.