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Curfew extended as corona cases increase, passing 1,000 mark

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Indian HC, Brandix deny Indian workers caused outbreak

The Police headquarters yesterday (7) extended the curfew imposed in Divulapitiya, Minuwangoda, Veyangoda and Gampaha to curb the resurgence of the corona pandemic to several other police areas as the authorities stepped up efforts to track down those Brandix apparel workers continuing to avoid quarantine measures.

Since the detection of the fresh community outbreak, a couple days ago 1,022 Brandix workers have tested positive. On Tuesday alone over 700 tested positive.

The police brought Ganemulla, Kiridiwela, Dompe, Malwathuhiripitiya, Mirigama, Nittambuwa, Pugoda, Weeragula, Weliweriya, Pallewala, Yakkala, Kandana, Ja–ela and Seeduwa under curfew.

The Island

 raised growing accusations that Indian workers employed by Brandix at its Minuwangoda manufacturing facility caused the crisis with the Indian High Commission in Colombo. 

 

The Island 

asked whether the IHC had been aware of the number of Indian workers at Minuwangoda and whether they had arrived there this year. The IHC spokesperson said: “As far as our understanding goes all international arrivals are subjected to health protocols and procedures stipulated by the government of Sri Lanka in view of the covid-19 pandemic. Any question in this regard may be directed to concerned authorities.”

A top Brandix spokesperson told The Island that Indian workers hadn’t been brought to their Minuwangoda facility or any other in Sri Lanka. There was absolutely no basis for that accusation, the spokesperson said. According to the official, some Sri Lankans who had been working in Brandix facility in India had been brought back some time back and they had been subjected to all protocols and procedures in place.

Health Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi and police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana urged the public to cooperate with the government to bring the situation under control.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa cancelled a scheduled meeting with editors of national newspapers and other senior representatives of print and electronic media scheduled for 10.30 am yesterday as the government stepped up efforts to bring the situation under control.

An elderly COVID-19 patient receiving treatment at the Ragama hospital walked out unnoticed. He was later found. (SF)

 



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Navy seize two Indian fishing boats poaching in Sri Lankan waters north of Mannar

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The Sri Lanka Navy seized two [02] Indian fishing boats and apprehended 14 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, during a special operation conducted in the sea area north of Mannar in the dark hours of 08 Feb 25.

The seized boats  together with the fourteen Indian fishermen were brought to the Iranativu Island and they were to be handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Kilinochchi for onward legal proceedings.

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Islandwide power outage

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A sudden power cut has been reported across the island.

Accordingly, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said steps are being taken to restore the power supply.

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Business

President invites exporters to rise again from the economic setback

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President Anura Kumar Disanayake invited Sri Lankan exporters to rebuild and thrive on a robust economic foundation.

The President emphasized that our country faces the challenge of capturing market share from a position of relative weakness. He pointed out that, to overcome this, external support had to be sought. In this regard, he highlighted that the government is prepared to provide assistance for recovery based on the current economic stability.

President Anura Kumar Disanayake made these remarks at the 26th Presidential Export Awards Ceremony.

The 26th Presidential Export Awards, organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), was held on Friday (07) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of President Anura Kumar Disanayake.

The main objective of the awards ceremony is to recognize exporters who have made significant contributions to the economic development of Sri Lanka.

The Presidential Export Award, presented by the President, is the highest honour for Sri Lankan exporters who have made significant contributions to the export sector and economic development.

The Presidential Export Awards program, initiated by the EDB in 1981, has been held annually to recognize Sri Lanka’s top exporters. The awards ceremony for the 2023/24 financial year took place this year.

A total of 14 major awards and 51 awards in the categories of production and services were presented, with recipients gaining the opportunity to use the Presidential Export Award logo as a marketing tool for three years.

President Anura Kumar Disanayake further emphasized the critical importance of the trust placed in Sri Lanka by international economic stakeholders to stabilize the country’s economy. He noted that the global market economy is interconnected, not entirely independent.

He further pointed out that the primary challenge facing Sri Lanka is securing a substantial share of the market amidst the current global division of markets and the ongoing competition to reclaim market shares.

President Anura Kumar Disanayake noted that the global market has become an interconnected network. He emphasized that in order for the country to become a key participant in this market, it must engage in trade agreements that are beneficial to Sri Lanka. He cautioned that aggressive, reckless approaches to market penetration would not be successful, stressing the need for strategic, thoughtful engagement.

The President further stated that the government is already taking steps to provide the necessary technical support for Sri Lankan exporters to enter the market with high-quality products. He highlighted the government’s focus on supplying new goods and services in response to global changes, in line with international market trends.

Regarding the reduction of electricity bills, the President mentioned that the government is prioritizing renewable energy sources to maintain long-term stability in energy costs. He added that efforts are underway to lower costs and ensure stable pricing over the next few years.

President Disanayake also emphasized that the government is committed to playing a pivotal role in advancing the nation’s economy to new heights. He noted that even small or misguided decisions can have significant negative impacts on the economy, and therefore, decisions regarding the economy must be made with great caution and foresight.

In his remarks, the President assured that the government is fully committed to fulfilling exporters’ requests, which are vital to strengthening the nation’s economy and maintaining a strong economic foundation.

Finally, the President invited Sri Lankan exporters to unite in strengthening the economy, stressing the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding to navigate the challenges of economic recovery and growth effectively.

The ceremony was attended by several distinguished individuals, including Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Duminda Hulangamuwa, along with various Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentarians, foreign diplomats, Secretaries to the Ministries, and members of the EDB.

[PMD]

 

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