Bus transporting garment workers attacked in Vavuniya

Attackers demand temporary closure of all factories

By Dinasena Ratugamage

A bus transporting garment workers was attacked by a group of youth in Muruganur, Vavuniya on Saturday. They also assaulted the driver of the bus.

There were 28 garment workers in the bus at the time of the incident. The youth stopped the bus, got inside and assaulted the driver alleging that he was transporting those who had contracted COVID-19. The youth also warned him to stop transporting garment workers.

Vavuniya Police are conducting investigations.

Recently, a number of community organisations have requested the Provincial Department of Health Services – Northern Province to temporarily close down garment factories in the province for a few days.

These organisations state that several thousand garment workers in the province have contracted Covid-19. These organisations claim that most factory owners do not adhere to the health regulations.

The owners of garment factories in fact try to cover up cases and this is a crime according to the Auarantine Act, they complain.

 These organisations have told the Provincial Department of Health Services that they understand the need to keep the economy going. The government too is aware of this and has prepared guidelines that should be followed by the factory owners.

 “However, these guidelines are blatantly violated. We see this in other parts of the country too where thousands of garment workers were exposed to the virus due to the negligence of the owners. If the Provincial Department of Health Services cannot make these factories follow guidelines, they should be closed temporarily,” a spokesman for a community organisation said.