A torchlight vigil in 1987 in support of Viraj Mendis, a Sri Lankan national who claimed the right of sanctuary at the Church of the Ascension in Hulme, Manchester, England, uk. He overstayed his visa and claimed danger of death if he was sent back to Sri Lanka. The vigil took place outside the church. In January 1989 police entered the church and arrested Mendis. He was deported back to Sri Lanka. It is reported that his fears did not materialise. Mendis claimed his case had received so much publicity that the Sri Lankan government did not dare to harm him.

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Keywords: 1980s, 1987, 35mm, 80s, archival, archive, ascension, bw, church, deport, deportation, deported, england, greater, historical, history, hulme, immigration, lanka, lankan, manchester, mendis, monochrome, overstay, sanctuary, sri, torchlight, uk., vigil, viraj, visa