News

MAS to close down two factories in Mihintale

Published

3 weeks ago

August 31, 2023

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Two factories in Mihintale belonging to MAS Holdings Group, which has amassed wealth as one of the biggest garment exporters in Sri Lanka for nearly 36 years, would be closed down, it is learnt.

With this decision, nearly 1,000 employees will lose their jobs. However, the authorities have informed the employees that the factories will be closed for 4 months.

Garment manufacturers are of the opinion that the lack of orders for garment products has led to the temporary closure of factories.

Meanwhile, some experts in the field said that the instability of the US Dollar due to the economic crisis in the United States and the financial crisis in Sri Lanka has directly affected the garment industry in Sri Lanka.

However, some people said that there is no lack of orders for these garments. They said the cost of manufacturing garments in Sri Lanka has increased due to the increase in the price of services including electricity. Therefore, the manufacturers divert the orders from the local factories to their own factories outside of Sri Lanka and then close down the local factories.

Who is this MAS?

MAS Holdings is the largest underwear manufacturer in South Asia.

The company was founded in 1987 by the three brothers of Mahesh, Ajay and Sharad Amalean and named the company with the first letter of their names.

MAS Holdings began as a manufacturer of intimate apparel and later diversified into sports wear, performance wear and swimwear.

MAS Holdings has 53 manufacturing facilities in 17 countries and employs over 93,000 people globally.

The company has design and development centers in New York, London, Hong Kong and Colombo. Its clients include Victoria’s Secret, Nike, Polo, Lululemon and PVH.

The company manufactures apparel accessories and fabrics and provides services beyond apparel manufacturing.

MAS was recognised as the second most prestigious corporate body in Sri Lanka in a 2017 survey conducted by Sri Lanka’s LMD Magazine and The Nielsen Company.

News

Number of rabies deaths on the rise

Published

1 hour ago

September 21, 2023

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The Ministry of Health said that the number of people who have died from rabies has increased in the last few years.

Dr. Heshan Guruge, medical officer of the Anti-Rabies Division, said that the lack of knowledge about rabies as well as the bites of animals other than dogs have led to the increase in these deaths.

Dr. Guruge expressed these views while attending a discussion held yesterday (20) at the Health Promotion Bureau in conjunction with the World Rabies Day on September 28.

“When studying the human deaths that happened in the last few years due to rabies, we can see that a number of animals other than dogs have bit them. In some cases, it is not even possible to know who the animal is. Several people who had passed out after being drunk had been bitten by some animal. After a few days, the symptoms of rabies develop. Several such incidents were reported in the last two or three years. Proper first aid should be given in case of any animal bite. Wash the wound with soap and water. If you have alcohol at home, an iodine solution like betadine, surgical spirit, or an antiseptic liquid like hydrogen peroxide, you can use it. Then go to a hospital. If we do this, we can eliminate rabies from Sri Lanka,” he said.

Don’t get closer to new pets for two weeks

Meanwhile, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, community specialist of the Epidemiology Unit, said that 12 people have died due to rabies in 2023 so far.

He said that there is a risk of contracting rabies from the bites of all mammals.

The Anti-rabies Unit said that 25 to 30 people die from rabies every year.

The Epidemiology Unit requested the people not to get closer to pets such as dogs and cats for 14 days after bringing them home.

Arrangements should be made to vaccine the dogs against rabies before a period of four weeks has passed.

When bitten by a dog, the area should be washed and cleaned with soap for ten minutes, and after that it is important to seek medical treatment immediately.