Workers take buses to leave after the closure of the Katunayake free trade zone on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 27, 2020. Sri Lanka has closed export industrial zones and granted leave to thousands of workers as part of the country's efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the island's state run Board of Investments said here Friday. Sri Lanka has to date reported 106 COVID-19 positive cases while over 200 are under observation. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)
COLOMBO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has closed export industrial zones and granted leave to thousands of workers as part of the country's efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the island's state run Board of Investments said here Friday.
"All individuals transported were dropped off at their respective police stations where the police will then take over in transporting them to their homes," Board of Investment said in a statement.
The Board of Investment said 5,000 individuals, including at least 1,500 industrial zone workers had been inside the Katunayake BOI zone, in the outskirts of Colombo, when an islandwide curfew was imposed last week.
The statement said that Investment Promotions Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had arranged for 150 state buses to transport the industrial zone workers home with the support of health care services.
Sri Lanka has to date reported 106 COVID-19 positive cases while over 200 are under observation.
Over 11,000 people are under quarantine while the country remains under an islandwide curfew.
