COVID-19 health and safety measures must for BOI firms

• Several Horana EPZ factories temporarily closed after employee tests positive

By Charumini de Silva

The Government has made it compulsory for all Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and offshore factories to comply with health guidelines relating to COVID-19.

The direction follows after several factories in Boralugoda, Horana EPZ were closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

“I have made it compulsory for all free-trade zone and offshore factories to strictly follow the Health Ministry guidelines if they want to resume operations,” Industrial Exports Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told the Daily FT.

He pointed out that the Board of Investment (BOI) has been instructed to conduct a regular investigation into the matter. By last week, 244 factories – employing 46,230 – have resumed operations countrywide already. By last Thursday alone, 62 factories with 6,695 employees in Katunayake had commenced operations, while 9,031 employees of 52 factories in Biyagama and 7,292 employees in 25 factories in the North and East have begun operations,” he added.

Ranatunga believes the situation will continue to improve after 11 May, and the BOI and Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) are aware of the fact that each of these factories must comply with health sector guidelines.

Meanwhile, the Minister has also informed the Heads of Departments of the Ministry of Industrial Exports, Investment Promotion, Tourism and Aviation that it is compulsory to follow health guidelines to restart the operations of the respective institutions.