News
Garment factories driven overseas due to high overheads here; already 15,000 workers face job loss this year
By Chaminda Silva
Around 15,000 garment workers employed in free trade zones would lose their jobs in 2023, Convener of the Free Trade Zone Workers’ Center, Gamini Ratnayake said.
He said there were 148,000 garment workers in 14 free trade zones. It was likely that a number of other factories too would be closed down after new tax laws are implemented, he said.
“Recently, one of the largest companies announced that it would close its factories in Katunayake, Koggala and Biyagama. It has asked its 5,000 workers who will lose their jobs to apply for employment to its factories in India,” Ratnayake said.
It was likely that many garment factories outside the free trade zones too have closed down, he said. However, there was no one monitoring these factories and there is no data available.
“The Minister of Power and Energy says power tariff will be increased significantly from January and there is speculation that there will be extended power cuts. So, a lot of foreign buyers are hesitant to give our factories new orders,” Ratnayake said.
The expenditure of garment factories has increased due to increased electricity tariff, he said.
“Now, we are finding it hard to compete with other countries that have much lower overheads. Therefore factory owners are already taking steps to shift to other countries,” he added.
INS Sindhukesari, a submarine serving in the Indian Navy, arrived at the port of Colombo on 03 May 26 to undertake Operational Turnarounds.
The visiting submarine was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in precision with naval traditions.
Throughout its stay in the island, the submarine’s crew is scheduled to participate in a variety of programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, including visits to several tourist attractions in Sri Lanka.
Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, officially visited the Russian House in Colombo to attend the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum, where members of the Sri Lanka Russia Business Council and graduates from the Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist countries (ASLGSC) attended.
This historic gathering was graced by rectors and representatives from several world-class Russian medical institutions, including Kursk State Medical University, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, and Tver State Medical University, among others.
The forum commenced with an address by Minister Murashko, during which Russian medical graduates in attendance raised pertinent questions regarding medical and pharmaceutical sector opportunities in Sri Lanka.
Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, together with Madam Maria L. Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka & the Maldives and Director of the Russian House in Colombo, graced the occasion. Both officials expressed strong support for continued collaboration and future initiatives between the two nations.
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
INS Sindhukesari arrives in Colombo
Minister of Health of the Russian Federation attends the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum
Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed
Three prison guards arrested following the death of an inmate
Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 pm.
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