Brandix workers got Covid from Ukrainian: Minister Fernandopulle

7 December 2020 10:52 pm - 34 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

It has been confirmed that the workers of the Brandix apparel factory had contacted COVID-19 from a Ukrainian national, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemiology and Coronavirus Disease Control Sudarshani Fernandopulle told Parliament today.

"Workers at Brandix had got infected through this Ukrainian national. It has also been found that some workers at the hotel in which the Ukrainian stayed at, had also got infected with COVID 19.

“The workers at Brandix had contact with the hotel employees. Therefore they have got infected from these hotel employees,” the Minister said.

She said COVID 19 strain which is currently spreading in Sri Lanka was the same.

Responding to a question raised by Jathika Jana Balawegaya MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the House yesterday, the State Minister said the research carried out by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura had confirmed that the strain which was being spread was same as the one which is currently spreading in Europe.

“It has also been confirmed that the virus load within the bodies of those who have been infected in the second wave is high. The virus load of those who found positive at Brandix and Peheliyagoda clusters is also found to be high,” she said.

“We are currently carrying out random PCR tests on all Sri Lankans in vulnerable areas. We have also increased PCR testing capacity in all hospitals including small hospitals.

Special focus is made on carrying out random PCR tests on those in coastal areas to control the spread of the disease from illegal immigrants,” the State Minister also said.

The State Minister said all those who arrive in Sri Lanka were subjected to PCR tests currently.(Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 34

Resde Aswe Monday, 07 December 2020 11:06 PM

Nice story to fool us!

Roger Thomas Monday, 07 December 2020 11:07 PM

This person was appointed only the other day and she has solved the mystery in no time. Wonder of Asia.

Lasith Monday, 07 December 2020 11:08 PM

Just how many illegal immigrants have come here?

Lasith Monday, 07 December 2020 11:08 PM

Just how many illegal immigrants have come here?

VJ Monday, 07 December 2020 11:33 PM

It is too obvious, the script is written to absolve Brandix of any wrongdoing. Not very convincing.

Fuller Monday, 07 December 2020 11:37 PM

utter bull, brandix got covid from unqurantined indian workers brought in over

G abe Monday, 07 December 2020 11:47 PM

Doesnt excuse them making their employees work while sick, brandix has targets to meet, profit was their only care and why was this ukranian wandering around, why aren't foreigners being screened properly, big hotels want their money right

gammini Tuesday, 08 December 2020 12:20 AM

So not from India, this is a criminal lie.

Demuni Uduwara Tuesday, 08 December 2020 04:45 AM

The date Ukraine guy arrived and the days symptoms traced in the Brandix differ.

kamal Tuesday, 08 December 2020 04:50 AM

Who is trying to fool who??

lion Tuesday, 08 December 2020 05:25 AM

no doubt and this was the script given to her to read by gotha clan.

Citizen Tuesday, 08 December 2020 06:06 AM

Jockey Corona

Selvakumar Tuesday, 08 December 2020 06:16 AM

minster what's try to say???, who tye people's bring to coronavirus to island??

Sunil Tuesday, 08 December 2020 06:36 AM

"contacted COVID-19". What English is this, coming from a national newspaper.

BranDick Tuesday, 08 December 2020 07:03 AM

HaHa..what a load of rubbish!!! Kids make up better stories than you lot! Obviously the strain came from Brandix India based employees who they brought down to train their staff with the new Jockey order! Now blaming some hotel staff and a random Ukrainian guy to sweep the story under the carpet! So, y not tell us the difference between the "European Virus strain" and the "Indian strain"? Also, what about Brandix force working sick employees? Where's the law for that? That was the cause of the spread of the virus!

lal Tuesday, 08 December 2020 07:35 AM

Madam, please don't blame our European relatives.

Covid 20 Tuesday, 08 December 2020 07:44 AM

Whether the Brandix workers got the virus from a Ukrainian or Indian is immaterial. Why did the management of Brandix completely ignore those who were ill? If the management had taken the right steps to safeguard the workers, none of this chaos may have happened.

Medical Tuesday, 08 December 2020 07:45 AM

What makes you think that you can hoodwink educated people? Having education and being educated are two things. Nice story to gimmick the illiterate.

Nurse Tuesday, 08 December 2020 07:52 AM

So, Dr. Covid has finally decided!!!

Ranjan Gurusighe Tuesday, 08 December 2020 08:10 AM

Madam, Could you please advice your colleague minister for Aviation, not to open the airport tourists. Waste of time , money. No one will visit as they have to go through 14 days quarantine

Sam Tuesday, 08 December 2020 08:17 AM

I suspect total fabrication to cover up the government support of un-controlled overseas worker repatriation to make their multi-million PPE order for the US.

Beruwala man Tuesday, 08 December 2020 08:30 AM

Can't be. It could be due to SL fishermen's secret dealings with Indian fishermen in deep seas. Peliyagoda fisherman's wife carried the virus to Brandix.

Brandin Tuesday, 08 December 2020 08:34 AM

The opinion of the majority need not be confused with the truth. Truth always hurts.

darme Tuesday, 08 December 2020 08:40 AM

Well Done...! problem solved..quick findings.. We need intelligent, honest Medical Experts with Punnakku drinking ,grass eating, privileged Parliamentarians like you people.

ara Tuesday, 08 December 2020 08:52 AM

ashroff omars money is talking

Odin Tuesday, 08 December 2020 08:54 AM

Who and when will ET be blamed for this pandemic?

V. Samantha Matharaarachchi Tuesday, 08 December 2020 08:57 AM

Baila............

joshua Tuesday, 08 December 2020 09:22 AM

One of many useless parliamentarians as usual fooling the people.

sakalabujan Tuesday, 08 December 2020 09:50 AM

තරු පන්තියේ හෝටල් වල ලක්ෂ ගණන් ගෙවා නිරෝදායනය වීමට අපට මුදල් නැත ඉන්දියාවේ හා ලෝකේ අනිත් රටවල වගේ නිවසේ නිරෝදායනය වීමට රට විරුවන්ට අවසර දෙන්න. සුළු වැටුපකට මැද පෙරදිග කාන්තරයේ ගිනි රස්නේ දුක් විද හම්බ කර රටට මුදල් ඒවා ඩොලර් සන්චිත පෝෂණය කරන රට විරැවා හුරගෙන කෑම වහා නවත්තනු.

TJ Tuesday, 08 December 2020 10:49 AM

You are sadly mistaken. Actually, they got it from extra terrestrials

S.P.Ramkumar Tuesday, 08 December 2020 11:07 AM

Is this Ukrainians group friends of former Sri Lanka Ambassador for Ukraine Hon. Uthayanga Weerathunga.

BrandX Tuesday, 08 December 2020 11:37 AM

Why is this medical professional stooping so low. Lying through her teeth.

Dee Tuesday, 08 December 2020 01:58 PM

So what happened to the health tourism project of the security company?

Bernard Tuesday, 08 December 2020 06:43 PM

She is trying to be another Viharamahadevi of the 21st century immediately after being appointed as a State Minister.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Brandix workers got Covid from Ukrainian: Minister Fernandopulle

Comments - 34

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

April 15 declared a government holiday

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

MIRROR CRICKET

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Debt Restructuring Talks: Bondholders Fear Regime Change Impact

Don’t be deceived by NPP and Cardinal Ranjith: UNP

Emirates halts check-in for connections, UL cancels flights to Dubai

Plans afoot to obtain “Blue Flag Beaches” certification for SL beaches

Hardik fined Rs 12 lakh for violating IPL code of conduct after win over Punjab Kings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings