News

20% of apparel factories face 3-month closure after December!

Published

6 months ago

November 23, 2023

editor

Chairman of the Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association – Mr. Dhammika Fernando says that around 20% of the large-scale garment factories in Sri Lanka has decided to close for a period of one to three months, after the December holidays.

He also adds that around 50% of small and medium scale factories have already been closed.

Mr. Fernando states that the income of investors in the garment industry has fallen by 25% due to increased costs and a fall in orders.

In this backdrop, many local investors are looking into the possibility of investing in other countries, he added.

Some investors have arranged for workers to be compensated and laid off. Around 10% of large scale companies have apparently done so.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that some company owners have asked their employees to stay home while paying them either partially or in full.

Mr. Fernando sys that some factories are only open for 4 days a week, while some are open every other week.

In addition to the above mentioned woes, the inability to secure a suitable price for their products have also affected the income levels, according to industry experts.

Mr. Fernando also mentioned that Sri Lankan garment exporters are unable to compete with other countries cost wise.

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News

Rathupaswala shooting: Army personnel acquitted

Published

3 hours ago

May 17, 2024

editor

All four Sri Lanka Army personnel who had been indicted on charges of shooting dead three persons and injuring 45 others during a protest by villagers demanding clean drinking water in Rathupaswala in 2013 were today acquitted by the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Delivering its verdict, the three-judge High Court ordered the acquittal and release of all four accused – a Major and three Army soldiers.

The incident occurred on August 1, 2013, when army personnel opened fire on a protest by villagers in Weliweriya. The villagers were protesting against a factory which they said was contaminating groundwater in their area and were demanding clean drinking water.

(sundaytimes.lk)

News

Fmr. Army Chief joins SJB

Published

5 hours ago

May 17, 2024

nipuni

Former Army Commander Retired General Mahesh Senanayake has joined with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

In a Facebook post, party leader Sajith Premadasa said that the Former Army Chief joined the SJB to support the program to rebuild Sri Lanka.

Mr. Premadasa had appointed General Mahesh Senanayake as the Chief of the Samagi Ranaviru Balawegaya.

News

Colombo HC sentences 9 Pakistani drug traffickers to 10 years in prison

Published

6 hours ago

May 17, 2024

nipuni

Nine Pakistani nationals, who were arrested on charges of smuggling a large cache of drugs, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Colombo High Court.

During a joint operation carried out by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and the Sri Lanka Navy on January 01, 2020, the Pakistani nationals were apprehended while transporting 614 kg of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine) and 581 kg and 34 grams of suspected drugs by boat.

The report of the Government Analyst has confirmed that the seized parcels contained over 491 kilograms of ‘Ketamine’ drugs and nearly 472 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine).

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges when the case was taken up before the court, and were subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison, police said.

Furthermore, the police mentioned that measures are underway to extradite the suspects to Pakistan in order to serve their sentences.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)