Spike in COVID-19 cases: Not the time to play blame game, says EDB Chief

Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Prabhash Subasinghe yesterday asserted it is unethical to point fingers at companies and individuals for the jump in COVID-19 positive cases as it is not one segment, but the entire society that must take responsibility.

Speaking to Mirror Business on the ongoing stigmatisation of apparel giant Brandix and its employees, EDB Chairman Prabhash Subasinghe said the country is in the current situation due to the entire nation having let their
guard down.

“No exporter manufactured the virus; we as a country let our guard down. This is not the time to be pointing blame at companies,” Subasinghe told Mirror Business. “Stigmatising the infected persons is completely wrong. We should not go by the company names and individuals. Nowhere in the world are the names of companies mentioned,” he added.

 Subasinghe pointed out the single reason for Sri Lanka to be successful in exports over the last few months was due to the effective COVID-19 control efforts taken by the government.

The consequences faced today are due to the general public not being strict enough in adhering to the controls in place, he reiterated.

Further, the EDB chief stressed that all factories and production sites followed the guidelines imposed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) which were monitored by the PHIs.

 While stating that the PHIs were in regular contact with factories, Subasinghe noted that the health officials are responsible to reach out to companies and make sure the guidelines were followed. (SAA)

FAAMA urges public to be “respectful”

As apparel giant Brandix continues to come under harsh criticism for having COVID-19 positive cases among its staffers, leading to a spike in the number of infected persons in the country, the Fabric and Apparel Accessory Manufactures’ Association (FAAMA) urged the public to be “respectful” during the ongoing crisis. 

Calling it an “entirely unfortunate incident,” FAAMA stressed that no company or industry would intentionally put their workforce or members of the general public at risk. ”We urge the general public to work together with the relevant authorities as well as to be responsible when dealing with social media to protect the image of our industry and country during these trying times,” a FAAMA statement said while acknowledging the position of Brandix as a significant contributor to the Sri Lankan apparel and textile industry. FAAMA stressed the need for all sections of the community to stand together as one nation and pull through the ongoing pandemic with dignity and respect for one another.

It reiterated that the apparel sector has been successful over the years and is recognised globally by leading brands as an industry that complies with global standards in social, environmental and governmental or international regulations.

 “This track record has given prominence to Sri Lanka on the global platform. The industry is fervently committed to continue complying with these standards in the future. As a nation we owe much to the apparel and textile sector workers, who even during the height of the pandemic have discharged their duties for Sri Lanka, to bring in much needed foreign exchange in to the country,” FAAMA said. 

 FAAMA represents over thirty leading fabric, apparel and accessory manufacturers in the country, and was established in 2003 to promote and foster the interests of fabric and accessory manufacturers in Sri Lanka.