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Minuwangoda Brandix InQube to be closed

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Discussions are being made for the temporary closure of the InQube factory in Minuwangoda owned by the Brandix company, it was reported.

According to internal sources, there is a risk of nearly 1,000 employees losing jobs due to the closure of the factory.

The management of Brandix previously closed the factories located in Kahawatta and Welisara.

Meanwhile, industry sources said that Brandix Group Chief Executive Officer Ashroff Omar has recently told the media that the garment industry is facing frequent challenges and that there will be a major loss of jobs in the short and medium term.

The managers of garment factories in Sri Lanka closed down the factories citing lack of orders for garment products, and the instability of the US Dollar caused by the US economic crisis and Sri Lanka’s financial crisis.

In Asia, several factories owned by Brandix are located in countries like India, Bangladesh and Cambodia and they are said to be operating successfully.

The Brandix company founded in 1969 by M.H.Omar has been considered as one of the leading local organizations that have earned profits for more than five decades.

It is said that Mr. Omar received the foundation for this business through Martin Trust, a forward-looking businessman from the US, who is considered to be the father of the modern garment industry in Sri Lanka.

Brandix was established in 1969 with his support.

Then around 1972, Brandix became a group company with Omar Group.

Later, under the leadership of renowned businessman Deshmanya Ken Balendran, Brandix Company rose to the top of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry.

Ashraf Omar is the Director and CEO of Brandix following the retirement of Mr. Balendran.

Brandix is also among the top companies in the list that have enjoyed GSP plus tax relief.

The European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) is a system that allows exports from developing countries to the European Union to pay a minimum tariff or to be fully duty-free.

Mihintale MAS on life support

Meanwhile, MAS Holdings Group which has amassed a large amount of wealth for almost 36 years as one of the largest garment exporters in Sri Lanka has decided to temporarily close down its Mihintale factory for a period of 4 months from yesterday (10).

It was said that this month’s salary is the last salary given to the employees of the factory with all allowances.

In the coming months, the employees will receive only the basic salary.

It was reported that there is a plan to assign the skilled workers from the factory to the local and foreign factories owned by the company.

However, sources said that after the closure of this factory, nearly 1,000 people will lose their jobs.

Jobs still unsafe

When inquired, Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union Joint Secretary Anton Marcus said that the temporary closure of a factory directly affects the job safety of its employees.

Mr. Marcus said that when a factory is temporarily closed, only the basic salary is given to the employees.

“In addition to the basic salary, attendance allowance, incentive allowance and low-cost or free meals are also important for the employees,” he said.

If only the basic salary is paid after the closure of the factory, he said the employees will leave their jobs since they cannot live only on the basic allowance.

He said that this company implemented the same strategy during the Covid-19 pandemic to reduce the number of employees without giving compensation.

BIZ

All necessary procedures to launch Starlink services in SL competed – Dy. Minister

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The government has completed all necessary procedures to launch Starlink services in Sri Lanka, says Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne.

According to Deputy Minister Weeraratne, once the expected information dashboard is received from Starlink, the service could be launched without any operational delays.

He made this statement while attending a bilateral meeting organized by the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore, held alongside the 2025 Tech Summit Asia in Singapore.

The matter was discussed during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne and Ambassador Stephan Lang, the United States’ Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy at the U.S. Department of State.

During the meeting, several strategic areas were also discussed.

Ambassador Lang emphasized the importance and urgency of these initiatives, describing them as both challenging and essential for Sri Lanka’s digital future. He reiterated the United States’ continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in implementing these transformative digital policies and programs.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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2 more arrested over shooting Halloluwa’s vehicle

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Two more individuals have been arrested over the shooting incident targeting the vehicle of former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board –  Thusitha Halloluwa.

According to the police, the duo was arrested by the Colombo South Divisional Crime Detective Bureau today (02).The suspects, aged 27 and 37 have been arrested in Kadawatha and Ganemulla.

According to Police, a cache of 13 rounds of T-56 type ammunition and 10 grams of the crystal methamphetamine also known as ICE were also found in the suspects’ possession.

The suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (June 03).

Further investigations are underway.

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MoH issues update on Covid-19 situation

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Secretary of the Ministry of Health – Dr. Anil Jasinghe has issued a special statement with regard to the Covid-19 situation in Sri Lanka.

“According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), a global increase in the activity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has been reported since February 2025. Based on the International Respiratory Surveillance System, several countries, including several countries in Asia have reported a notable rise in COVID-19 cases in recent months, the statement states.

In May 2023, the WHO officially declared the end of the COVID-19 global pandemic status, and since then, COVID-19 has been treated as a disease that circulates endemically, similar to other common respiratory infections. It is a known phenomenon for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to undergo genetic mutations during its transmission,” the statement added.

“It is a known phenomenon for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to undergo genetic mutations during its transmission. The currently circulating variant reported in many countries in 2024 has been identified as a sub lineage of a previously known genetic variant. In 2024, this same variant has been detected in Sri Lanka as well.”

“In May 2025, specimens tested by the Medical Research Institute (MRI) confirmed the presence of these previously identified sub-lineages. Therefore, these are not novel variants, and no evidence of increased severity or complications has been reported,” the statement further notes.

Noting that seasonal increases in respiratory illnesses like influenza are commonly observed in recent times, especially under prevailing climatic conditions, the statement states that health authorities remain vigilant in monitoring disease trends, and the public need not panic unnecessarily.

“If individuals experience fever or respiratory symptoms, there is no need for hospital admission out of fear. However, if someone experiences difficulty breathing, medical attention should be sought,” Dr. Jasinghe says.

“Nevertheless, it is important to maintain good respiratory etiquette and general health practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections, such as influenza. Recommended measures include covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or the elbow when coughing or sneezing, avoiding unnecessary contact with the face, and ensuring frequent hand hygiene through proper hand washing or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. It is also advisable to avoid touching the face with unclean hands. Individuals exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness should wear a face mask to minimize the risk of transmitting the infection to others and avoid crowded public settings unless essential. Special attention must be directed towards high-risk populations, as they are more susceptible to developing complications from respiratory infections. These groups include older adults, pregnant women, and infants and young children, whose immune systems are either compromised or still developing. Furthermore, individuals with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, diabetes, renal disease, cancer, or other chronic diseases, as well as those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, are at increased risk and require additional protection,” the statement further adds.

The full statement is as follows :

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