President tells Army Chief to ensure export firms unhindered

Friday, 20 March 2020 00:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday requested the Army Commander and Chairman National Operating Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak to ensure uninterrupted working arrangements backed by precautionary measures to export-oriented manufacturing enterprises, noting that continuous economic functions were critical.

“Many steps are being taken to mitigate the possible negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak to the society at large, and it will be absolutely necessary to ensure that economic functions of the country must continue to be undertaken unabated,” Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera said in a letter to Army Commander and National Operating Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak Chairman Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva yesterday.

In this context, the Secretary noted that export-oriented manufacturing enterprises be advised that operation of their enterprises shall be carried out, subject to the concerned management taking required measures to protect the employees by following all health and safety procedures as had been advised.

The letter also said that the relevant Government institutions would continue to provide all services even with a skeleton staff.

The letter follows BOI Chairman Susantha Ratnayake on Tuesday informing the COVID-19 Task Force meeting chaired by President Rajapaksa that the Police had ordered the closure of at least two export manufacturing units in Kahathuduwa and Mullaitivu, on the grounds that the Government had declared a special holiday for three days. The BOI Chief requested for clarity with regard to operations of export-oriented factories which follow health and safety standards, amidst countrywide measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

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