The Covid 19 virus, which was started by Brandix in Minuwangoda, has now spread to 13 factories in Katunayake and it is reported that 314 of its employees have contracted Kovid 19. Out of the 84 factories in Katunayake, six companies Hydramani, Next, ATG, Cheapway Lanka, MAS Lanka and Brandix have been completely shut down.
Despite the quarantine curfew, most of the workers are still employed. Meanwhile, the Katunayake Police also advised those who come to work here to refrain from coming in their private vehicles.
However, Gampaha District Health Services Director Dr. Migara Epa recently stated on the Neth FM website that the use of manpower in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone has led to the spread of the Covid 19 virus throughout the area.
It has also been revealed that one of the main reasons for this is the inadequate sanitation facilities in the hostels in the area.
We inquired about this from the Assistant Secretary of the Commercial and Industrial Workers’ Union, Mr. Sugath Rajapaksa, who said that Man Power employees could not be blamed for this. He points out that the Man Power system is an existing system in the current economic model and that if so, those workers should be recruited permanently from the factories.
Commenting on this, Dr. Chamila Thushari, Program Coordinator of Da Bindu Group says that at present there are about 10,000 Man Power employees in Katunayake. The virus was first spread in Katunayake by employees of Brandix in Minuwangoda, Katunayake.
She also said that Brandix’s human resources division had spread to other parts of the country due to its island-wide presence, adding that the virus would not have spread if companies had health facilities.
