Melbourne Hotspots go into Lockdown

On 28th of June Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews during a press conference on June confirmed COVID-19 infection numbers continued to rise, with 49 new coronavirus cases recorded overnight.

Health authorities are continuing on a testing blitz in Melbourne suburbs that have been identified as community transmission hotspots for coronavirus.

A few days later Daniel Andrews announced Lockdowns across Melbourne which came into effect at for residents of suburbs identified as COVID-19 hotspots following a spike in new coronavirus cases through community transmission. From midnight Wednesday 1 July, residents of 10 postcodes will only be able to leave home for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Businesses and facilities in these lockdown areas will also be restricted and cafes and restaurants can only open for take-away and delivery. The restrictions will remain in place until at least 29 July.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 28: Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews during a press conference on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 28: A woman conducts an oral Covid-19 test at a pop-up facility during a COVID-19 testing blitz in the suburb of Broadmeadows on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.  (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 28: An elderly man has a Covid-19 test under the guidance of a member of the testing team during a COVID-19 testing blitz in the suburb of Broadmeadows on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.  (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 28: A man conducts a Covid-19 test by inserting a swab in his nose, under the guidance of a member of the testing team at a pop-up testing site, during a COVID-19 testing blitz in the suburb of Broadmeadows on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 28: An elderly woman is tested at a pop-up clinic during a COVID-19 testing blitz in the suburb of Broadmeadows on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: A police officer directs traffic into a lane where drivers are checked on their reason for travel and residential address on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: A police officer directs traffic into a lane where drivers are checked on their reason for travel and residential address on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Lockdowns across Melbourne have come into effect for residents of suburbs identified as COVID-19 hotspots following a spike in new coronavirus cases through community transmission. From midnight Wednesday 1 July, residents of 10 postcodes will only be able to leave home for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Businesses and facilities in these lockdown areas will also be restricted and cafes and restaurants can only open for take-away and delivery. The restrictions will remain in place until at least 29 July. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: An empty row of shops is seen at the Olsen Place shopping village in the suburb of Broadmeadows on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.  (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: A general view of a drive through testing facility at Broadmeadows central shopping center on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: A man gets a Covid-19 test at a testing site on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: A woman gets a Covid-19 test at a testing site on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

People line up to get a Covid-19 test at a testing site in the locked-down suburb of Dallas on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: Bottleshop owner of Dallas Cellars, Darshan Singh in the locked down suburb of Dallas on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Darshan Singh has noticed a drop in business today, he normally gets a lot of walk-in customers but since lockdown has only got local customers. The restrictions will remain in place until at least 29 July. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews walks to the podium to conduct a press conference on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria’s confirmed COVID-19 infection numbers continue to rise, with 49 new coronavirus cases recorded overnight. Health authorities are continuing on a testing blitz in Melbourne suburbs that have been identified as community transmission hotspots for coronavirus. Restrictions in Victoria have been tightened in response to the spike in new cases across the state with premier Daniel Andrews extending the current state of emergency for at least four weeks to allow police the power to enforce social distancing rules. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Suburbs under stay-at-home orders

• 3012: Brooklyn, Kingsville, Maidstone, Tottenham, West Footscray
• 3021: Albanvale, Kealba, Kings Park, St Albans
• 3032: Ascot Vale, Highpoint City, Maribyrnong, Travancore
• 3038: Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Taylors Lakes, Watergardens
• 3042: Airport West, Keilor Park, Niddrie
• 3046: Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park
• 3047: Broadmeadows, Dallas, Jacana
• 3055: Brunswick South, Brunswick West, Moonee Vale, Moreland West
• 3060: Fawkner
• 3064: Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Mickleham, Roxburgh Park and Kalkallo

Words and Photos by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Asanka Brendon Ratnayake is a photojournalist and travel photographer based in Melbourne Australia covering Australia, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Follow him on instagram 

Melbourne Rally In Solidarity With Black Lives Matter Movement

An estimated 10,000+ #BlackLivesMatters protestors took the street today in #Melbourne in an effort to bring further attention to the Indigenous deaths in custody, Racial profiling and the murder of George Floyd.

Australia has had 432 Indigenous deaths in police custody since 1991.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: A protestor holding a placards reading ‘Black Indigenous Lives matter’ on June 06, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: A general view of protestors with the clenched fists raised in front o Black Lives Matter street posters on June 06, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: A woman is seen wearing a face mask reading ‘More scared of A racist World than a Pandemic’ on June 06, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: Protestors holding Black Lives Matter placards as they listen to speeches on June 06, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: A protester holding face-masks and gloves as a sanitization station on June 06, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Events across Australia have been organised in solidarity with protests in the United States following the killing of an unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota and to rally against aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: Protestors stand with clenched fists in solidarity on the steps of St Paul Cathedral on June 06, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: Protestors take a knee as they protest in Solidarity with clenched fists on June 06, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Events across Australia have been organised in solidarity with protests in the United States following the killing of an unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota and to rally against aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: An Aboriginal man with a clenched fist stands before the crowd on June 06, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 06: A general view looking towards Flinders Street station as protestors listening to speeches as Night falls on June 06, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Words and Photos by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake 

Asanka Brendon Ratnayake is a photojournalist and travel photographer based in Melbourne Australia covering Australia, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Follow him on instagram 

Melbourne International Students Impacted By Coronavirus Line up for Food vouchers.

 

While working on another story, I came across hundreds of people lined up toward Melbourne town hall.

Curious, I checked it out, spoke to people lined up, only find out they were International students lining up for food vouchers.

 

I made the call to drop the other story I was working on and focus on this.

After publishing and a tweet in which I recorded a video of the line of students, the images and video went viral and consequently, publications such as SBS picked up the story.

www.sbs.com.au/news/thousands-of-international-students-lining-up-for-food-vouchers-could-just-be-the-tip-of-the-iceberg

The City of Melbourne is distributing retail vouchers to support international students impacted by COVID-19 and boost trade at Queen Victoria Market as part of its ‘Our Shout’ program. The $200,000 retail voucher program aims to support international students affected by job losses and housing insecurity with access to vouchers worth up to $200 each to spend at Queen Victoria Market. Lines extended around the block. The international student economy is worth $9.1 billion a year to the state of Victoria.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 01: International Students are seen lined up outside the Melbourne Town Hall on June 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 01: International Students are seen lined up outside the Melbourne Town Hall on June 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 01: International Students are seen lined up outside the Melbourne Town Hall on June 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 01: International Students are seen lined up outside the Melbourne Town Hall on June 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.  (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 01: International Students are seen lined up standing in the rain outside the Melbourne Town Hall on June 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 01: International Students are seen lined up outside the Melbourne Town Hall on June 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 01: International Students are seen lined up outside the Melbourne Town Hall on June 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

To give some idea of how long that line of international students in #Melbourne lining up for Food vouchers was. pic.twitter.com/kAMLphponH

— Asanka Brendon Ratnayake (@abrfoto) June 1, 2020

Words and Photos by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Asanka Brendon Ratnayake is a photojournalist and travel photographer based in Melbourne Australia covering Australia, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Follow him on instagram 

As Melbourne opens up a Corona Virus cleansing team have begun a blitz, but who are they?

My news beat covering the Corona Virus over the past few months has meant I’ve spent numerous days walking through the eerily quiet streets of Melbourne. In the last month or so, teams of Hi-Visibility vest clad cleaning teams would be dispatched throughout the city and into the suburbs. It was obvious to me that many of them didn’t seem like the sort of people you would generally associate with such work, it was evident that this was a new form of employment and in all likelihood the only form available for most. Curious to this, I felt compelled to learn more about who these people were, there was more to this story than just an increase in the number of cleaners on the street.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 28: Former tour guide Paul Guley holds a morning briefing with COVID-19 Cleansing Team on May 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Under an initiative funded by the Victorian Government titled ‘working for Victoria’ councils were giving funds to employ via their contractors displaced workers to conduct a sanitisation blitz.

On assignment for Getty Images, I spent a few days with the Covid-19 cleansing teams in the City of Port Phillip in Melbourne inner city south-east, to learn about the makeup of these unsung heroes of the Pandemic in Melbourne. Who are they, where do they come from, how are they in these roles and why have they chosen to do it?

Some have come from all over the world, among them are recent Law graduates, Architects, International Students and displaced local workers from the tourism and hospitality sectors. Most of have fallen through the cracks of being eligible for financial assistance during Covid-19, there are also some who have chosen not to get financial assistance and just want to get back to work.

For 5 days a week, they navigate their way through the street of Melbourne walking over 15 kilometres a day cleaning and sanitising railings, playgrounds, bins, lamp posts bicycle racks and every other council amenity we may not even notice. All done enthusiastically and with a sense of duty to the community.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 28: Helmut Prieto from Colombia sanitizes a public shower on the shore of Port Melbourne beach on May 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 29: Julien Battut sprays sanitizer on a railing in Port Melbourne on May 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Originally from France Julien formally a member of the French Army who came to Australia to work as a chef found himself unemployed and unable to access Jobseeker due to his immigration status, he took on the role to not only maintain an income but to help the community, he says “I love Australia and Melbourne, if I can help at this time I am to do so” . (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 28: Julien Battut (centre) and Adhar Bol (right) discuss the planned cleaning route their teams will be taking throughout the day on May 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 29: Suzanne Kerr poses for a portrait on May 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Suzanne Kerr aged 45 was unable to claim Jobseeker as she fell one month short of eligibility. She a resident in the country town of Mansfield, she commutes back home by bus on the weekend while she works five days a week as part of the Sanitization team while staying overnight at a hostel. She says “I don’t see it as a big deal, I have to do what I need to do to get by, there is no work in the country”. She feels that those unable to find work need to look at all options and maybe get out of there comfort zone “It’s not fantastic but sometimes it’s a good thing to be outside your comfort zone but don’t give up there is hope”. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 28: A cleansing team sanitize playground equipment in the suburb of Port Melbourneon May 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 28: Former tour guide Paul Guley cleans play sanitizes play equipment at a childrens playground on May 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Paul Guley was a former tour guide previously worked with a tour operator taking predominantly international tourist, as a result of International travel restrictions he was without work. He finds his new employment “enjoyable as it provides a community service and an opportunity to still stay fit”. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 29: A COVID-19 Cleansing Team cleans bike racks as they walk past a COVID-19 Clinic in Port Melbourne on May 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Words and Photos by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake taken while #onassignment for @gettyimages 

Asanka Brendon Ratnayake is a photojournalist and travel photographer based in Melbourne Australia covering Australia, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Follow him on instagram 

Covering Covid-19 in Melbourne Australia

Some of you may have come across my Photo Essay ‘Melbourne under Covid’

Melbourne during the Corona Virus Pandemic Photo Essay by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Since March 2019 I’ve been covering the Corona Virus crisis here in Melbourne Australia. If I look back the moment it felt like the impact of Covid-19 and its entrance into our lives started around the time of the Australian Grand Prix or more specifically the cancellation of it, any event I was covering up until it’s cancellation.

Melbourne, Australia – March 13 2020: A press conference from Chase Carey, Andrew Westacott, Michael Masi and Paul Little is held following the cancellation of due to Covid 19 the 2020 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix on the Friday 13th of March . Photo by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake www.abrfoto.com

Since then I’ve documented the closure of businesses, empty streets that followed, innovations and people adapting to the new realities. With every new restriction added a new way of life needed to be introduced. Thankfully compared to the rest of the world the human toll and adverse health impact anticipated by Covid 19 never arrived. On the 15th of May, restrictions were eased in Melbourne.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 30: Medical practioners conducting tests for Covid-19 at a drive through testing facility in a undercover carpark as cars are lined up with drivers awaiting to be tested at the Chadstone Shopping Center on April 30, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. COVID-19 testing is set to expand across Australia as the government looks to ease current lockdown restrictions. Asymptomatic or those with mild symptoms will also be tested to ensure there are no cases missed as Australian health authorities hope to keep confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases on the decline. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

As the the impact of the Corona Virus hits Melbourne and our lives change I’ll continue to document and archive the changes and update this Photo Essay, so stayed tuned.

You can view the original photo essay here

Asanka Brendon Ratnayake is a photojournalist and travel photographer based in Melbourne Australia covering Australia, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Follow him on instagram 

(C) Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Photo Essay : The Castle Hotel calls last drinks

The big multinational swallowing up the local watering hole is a common story all over the modern world, on February 29 in 2016, it was Sri Lanka’s turn. 141 years after its opening, the iconic Castle Hotel and Bar in Colombo, served last drinks.

The colonial building is believed to be over 200 years old and started its life as a printing press. When interviewed by Groundviews.org Hotel manager H.D. Mervyn Wickremesinghe believed the building became the castle hotel in 1875 which catered to international guests. In recent decades, the Castle has become the community bar to the local working-class in the area of Slave Island.

A customer walks into the castle hotel.  On the 28th of February 2016 the Castle Hotel called last drinks. While the building itself may survive with the likelihood of being turned in into offices the last arrack’s have been served and last songs sung. One of the Colombo’s most iconic drinking spots has been closed.

Men playing street cricket outside the Castle Hotel on Slave Island. The Castle hotel which operates primarily as a pub, very basic hotel rooms are also available upstairs. Next door to the Castle Hotel is a large apartment development being conducted by the Tata Group. After the acquisition of land by the Indian multinational conglomerate,  the hotels future has been uncertain.

A person sits at a table in the foyer as a drunk man lays down passed out inside the Castle hotel entrance.

Of all the bars and pubs in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo there are few that match the character, history and working class realities of the emerging Sri Lanka than this iconic venue.
The colonial grand façade, imposing a Y-Shaped staircase at its foyer entrance, gives insight to the Castle Hotel’s ‘hey day’ which would have catered to foreign guests and troops during the World Wars.

Since then, the upkeep of the hotel has been in a decline and its character and charm representative of its predominantly working-class clientele. Loyal customers from snake charmers, tuk tuk drivers, low level office clerks and ironically, even the labourers working on the site that would eventually see the end of the bar, would be found having a drink at the Castle on most nights.

A snake being held by its charmer looks at a Monkey which is sitting on its owners lap as their owners have a drink and socialise inside the Castle Hotel.

Men lining up for drinks at the bar counter drinking at the Castle Hotel.

Men sitting at a table drinking inside the Castle hotel which operates primarily as a pub or local drinking den, hotel rooms are also available.

The future of the hotel has been uncertain after Indian multinational conglomerate ‘The Tata Group’ purchased the highly valuable land to develop modern offices and apartment complexes. There were talks the hotel would remain in its current form, however, it was always going to be a matter of time before the last drinks would be served.

Beers were cheap, arrack plentiful and short bites, spicy. The resident stray cat would hunt around for scraps on the floor. Like any good pub, stories were shared, grievances voiced and opinions were made known in the presence of complete strangers. Drunks, alcoholics and general louts would be ushered out with some decorum and respect, when they had one too many.

A man smokes a cigarette as he drinks beer at a table with friends inside the Castle hotel.

Two men share a having a drink inside the Castle Hotel

A man orders an arrack (local drink) at the counter inside the Castle hotel which operates primarily as a pub but hotel rooms are also available upstairs. Slave Island is home to numerous small houses occupied by some of colombo’s working class, as gentrification & development encroaches land in the now highly valuable slave island is slowly pushing out locals from the area. Slave Island is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka located directly south of the Fort area of Colombo

A man skols or drinks down a large large bottle of beer as a drunk man wearing a sarong walks past inside the Castle hotel

It recent years, this humble venue gained a reputation online as a ‘dodgy pub’ – though in my experience, you are more likely to find dodgier clientele and shady customers (for lack of better words) in the bars and clubs of Colombo’s 5-star hotels.

The Castle didn’t pretend to be something it wasn’t and it was, by far, more representative of Sri Lanka than the Westernised hotels down the road. Its guests were treated with respect and without the judgement they may experience outside.

As modern Sri Lanka rides the economic wave of a post-war economy, the consequence of gentrification emerges.

At the Castle hotel, what you saw was what you got, it was real and it was gritty, but it was honest.

An empty room with a disconnected old TV set sits on a table inside the Castle hotel which operates primarily as a pub, hotel rooms are also available.

A man walks into the main entrance of the Colonial styled Castle Hotel

Words and photography by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake.

Asanka Brendon Ratnayake is a photojournalist and travel photographer based in Melbourne Australia covering Australia, Asia and the indian subcontinent. Follow him on instagram 

(C) Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Reclaim Australia : Melton Protests

A few selects from the Reclaim Australia protests in Melton.

Supporters of the Reclaim Australia group shout and hold banners during a protest organised by the far right wing group. Melbourne, Australia November 22 2015.

Anti-Fascist counter protestors clash with supporters of the Reclaim Australia group during a protest organised by the far right wing group Reclaim Australia.

A member of the Reclaim Australia wearing a balaclava of the Australian flag over his face an during a protest organised by the far right wing group. The Anti-Islamic group protested in the city of Melton on the outskirts of Melbourne voicing their opinions in relation to immigration and the building of Mosques and schools in the country.

A man is arrested by police in riot gear during a protest organised by the far right wing group Reclaim Australia. The Anti-Islamic group protested in the city of Melton on the outskirts of Melbourne voicing their opinions in relation to immigration and the building of Mosques and schools in the country.

Anti-racism counter protestors push back a line of horses used to seperate opposing groups during a protest organised by the far right wing group Reclaim Australia. The Anti-Islamic group protested in the city of Melton on the outskirts of Melbourne voicing their opinions in relation to immigration and the building of Mosques and schools in the country.

Anti-Racism protestors protestors shield for cover as they are pepper sprayed by police after they tried to push through police lines during a protest organised by the far right wing group Reclaim Australia.

Two young boys one of whom is riding his bicycle stand in front of police in riot gear during a protest organised by the far right wing group Reclaim Australia.

Anti-Fascist counter protestors clash with supporters of the Reclaim Australia group during a protest organised by the far right wing group Reclaim Australia.

A supporter of the Reclaim Australia group is pushed back by police officer dressed in riot gear during a protest organised by the far right wing group Reclaim Australia.

Supporters of the Reclaim Australia group march down the street waving flags and shouting anti-islamic slogans during a protest organised by the far right wing group.