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Wednesday, 21 October 2020 00:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told Parliament yesterday that 48 persons had been brought down from India by the Brandix Apparel Ltd and all of them were Sri Lankan nationals.
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| Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi
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Responding to a question raised by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, the Minister said that the authorities were still in search of the origin of the COVID-19 Minuwangoda cluster. “When we ascertain the true facts, we would inform Parliament of that,” she said.
“As soon as the reports of the first known case came up, that was on 3 October, the President summoned all government stakeholders responsible for the preventing the spread and instructed them to take actions immediately. “Authorities are working round the clock seven days a week to contain the disease. The 48 Sri Lankans that came to the Brandix factory in Minuwangoda underwent the quarantine process for 14 days. In addition, they underwent home quarantine for 14 more days. Those processes were completed under the supervision of the Army,” Wanniarachchi said.
The Minister also added that the Government has taken action to provide Rs. 5,000 to each family affected by the disease and resides in the areas curfew had been declared.
“This is a global pandemic. Even if an injection were found, we would not be able to get rid of this until we inject all Sri Lankans. Even after that we have to pay attention to the fact that we cannot let our guards down until the pandemic is swept for good from other countries. The threat would remain there till such time,” she said.
Meanwhile, Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa also told Parliament yesterday that no Indian nationals have come to the country as employees, for any sector since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Responding to a question by Kurunegala District SJB MP Thushara Indunil about reports to the effect that the recent Minuwangoda cluster of COVID-19 patients had been triggered by Brandix Apparel bringing down workers from India, Weerawansa said any foreign national coming here as an employee or a technical officer of a factory, should get the prior approval of the Ministry of Industries and no such approvals have been given since March and the Board of Investment has not done so either.
He said he had checked it with the Controller of Immigration and Emigration. There are no records on giving approval to an Indian national.
