Greetings to Mr Sanjaya Mohottala – Chairman-BOI

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Workplace preparedness and response to reduce the spread of…

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Guide lines for use of AG-RDT

The Guideline for the use of COVID-19 Antigen-Rapid Diagnostic Test in the control of COVID-19 transmission and management which has been developed by the Ministry of Health is now recommended to use in the state sector health institutes and public health outbreak management work.

Ag-RDT is strongly recommended to be used in the teaching hospitals, tertiary level special care institutes, provincial hospitals and district general hospitals, essentially under the guidance and supervision of a microbiologist or a virologist available onsite.

Further review of the guideline will take place with information gathered thought ongoing usage and evidence.

The guideline is annexed herewith, and you are kindly requested to disseminate the said guideline in view of facilitating Ag-RDT in specified clinical settings.

Dr Asela Gunawardena,

Director General of Health Services

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The below circular was issued by Actg. Director General…

To All Exporters under FTAs/PTAs/RTAs/GSP Schemes

The Certificates of Origin (COOs) under FTAs/PTAs/RTAs/GSP Schemes will be issued w.e.f  Monday the  30th November 2020 from the Department of Commerce,04^th Floor,”Rakshana Mandhiraya”,No.21,Vauxhall Street Colombo 02.

As notified earlier, you may continue to send via email   scanned copies of COOs and supporting documents .Once you receive a notice through an email to submit the originals ,kindly send the same.

The documents will be collected/ issued   at every half an hour  at the “out” gate.

Office hours- 09.30am  to 04.00pm (Monday-Friday)

Contact  Tel. no  for clarification- 0778489678

Actg. Director General of Commerce

29.11.2020

4 billion loss at FTZ: 60% of employees absent

The General Secretary of the Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Association (FTZMA) Dhammika Fernando says that around Rs. 4 billion in revenue has been lost this month due to the disruption of production in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone  due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 275 factories have been set up in the country’s major Free Trade Zones located in Katunayake, Biyagama, Mirigama, Malwatta, Wathupitiwala and Koggala. 
Another 86 factories have been set up outside the Katunayake FTZ.

He said that production has been severely disrupted as about 60% of the employees working in these companies are absent from work.

Donation by FTZMA in helping to slow down the…

Free Trade Zone Manufactures’ Association (FTZMA) has donated Bed Sheets, Pillowcases, Soaps, Toothpastes and Water Bottles to the health department in Gampaha division in assisting COVID-19 patients. The donation was made by the Chairman Mr Jatinder Biala and Hon Secretary Mr Dhammika Fernando at their secretariat yesterday to Dr Aruna Plaitha Sampath – Director/E&OH Gampaha Division with the patronage of Director-KEPZ of BOI Mr Sisil Fernando.

FTZMA has been always actively contributing their fair share during calamities and disaster in helping the employee community and this instance also is part of the association’s responsibility to be good co-operate citizen, FTZMA is proud to partner with the National health authorities and has pledged its support to the impacted communities in the surrounding areas of KEPZ, BEPZ, Malwatte Industrial Park, Wathupitiwela Zone and Mirigama zone which are coming under their purview.

FTZMA as an active member of the COVID Task Force team has continued to pledge its support & commitment with its members to the resilient response initiatives taken by BOI, Health Authorities and Security forces in curbing & combating the spread of pandemic the employees of all our BOI EPZs around the country.

Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association stands by Brandix

Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association Chairman Jatinder Biala and Honorary Secretary Dhammika Fernando yesterday issued the following statement:

“It has become evident followed by the incident that a 39-year-old woman from Brandix factory in Minuwangoda had been detected as infected with coronavirus, we have seen a few media and social media stories doing the rounds vilifying the organisation with unfounded allegations.

“The Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Association (FTZMA) is of the view that Brandix being a member of our association is one of the best and leading apparel exporters. A proud Sri Lankan investment should not be victimised and maligned for spreading the virus at this juncture creating a public stigma. A similar situation could occur at any of our member enterprises in the country. 

“We wish to state that the authorities and the general public shall not penalise and shall be devoid of discrediting Brandix unduly, which has been following proper health and safety guidelines recommended by the Epidemiology Unit of Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

“Further, we the FTZMA, as a responsible association, had taken various steps throughout the pandemic situation as an active industry chamber and helped the health and law enforcement authorities to overcome various challenges at the initial stage to start operations (whilst adhering to all health and safety regulations) of our member enterprises as early as late March, helping the national economy by bringing in valuable foreign exchange when it needed it the most through our exports earnings. 

“Therefore, FTZMA wishes to convey their serious concern of this situation and would like to assist authorities to curb and control it, moreover such incidents may have already put financial stress to the employers of Brandix Fast Fashion and also its employees, so we all should support the company to overcome the current situation which is quite unfortunate.

“Whilst thanking the health authorities for the swift action taken to contain the Minuwangoda cluster, we once again express our solidarity with the Brandix Group.”

Urgent and Important Notice to FTZMA Members and enterprises…

Followed by the COVID-19 outbreak happened in Divulapitiya, Minuwangoda and Veyangoda areas, we urge our
member enterprises to be extra careful as there could be a tendency in transmitting this virus from through many
possible means to the employees of other enterprises of BOI EPZs and of outside. This being said, we request all our members to strictly abide by the health guide lines issued by the Epidemiology Unit of Ministry of Health & Indigenous Medical Services which were previously circulated by the association.
In short, we expect you all to:

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GPV Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd is awarded with the Certificate…

Mrs. Siddhika G. Senaratne Director General of Sri Lanka Standards Institution handing over the certificate to GPV Electronics in Sri Lanka.

GPV Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. recently received the Certificate of Conformity – SLS 1672:2020 COVID-19 Safety Management System from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI). This confirms the company’s unparalleled commitment towards ensuring health and safety measures among its workforce and all stakeholders engaged in its day-to-day operations. Preparation to face the pandemics consequences within a short time is a noteworthy aspect of the organisation. Furthermore, this qualification will support to keep production geared up to serving overseas customers with minimum hindrance.

GPV Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd has become the first Sri Lankan Company into electronics manufacturing to receive this kind of certification.

GPV was founded in Denmark in 1961 and is today one of Europe’s leading electronics manufacturers. GPV is a global EMS-partner providing complex electronics, cable-harness, mechatronics and box-build solutions including design and engineering activities to customers worldwide within high mix / low-medium volume. GPV generates a revenue at about USD 460 million with around 3,700 employees and has production sites across Europe, Asia and the Americas. GPV Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd is in the industry in Sri Lanka for more than 30 years and today it has 1,022 employees including 45 electronic engineers with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.