Asela KURULUWANSA
COLOMBO : Investment Promotion State Minister Dilum Amunugama said that subsequent to a lengthy discussion by officers of the relevant division with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, its owner agreed to once again operate the Al-Obedan garment factory at Katana. He said that police protection and protection from the Police Special Task Force (STF) had been provided to the garment factory premises. State Minister Amunugama made this statement at a press briefing held in Kandy yesterday (9). Speaking further Amunugama said that on March 30 several persons including the owner of this garment factory had been attacked by thugs. Then the owner had decided to wind up the business here and head back to his own country. It is known that stocks of materials that were in the factory had even been removed and taken away.
“A large number of people from the area are employed at this factory. We focused attention on this and continuously held discussions with the owner of the factory. He had said that justice had not been done regarding the attack carried out and that the environment was not suitable to operate the factory further”.
The President had intervened and set up a police post in the factory as well and had taken steps to provide STF protection. It was only after that, that the owner of the factory had decided to run it further.
The owner had said that maintaining this garment factory in Katana further could prove to be a problem and had therefore requested another place to set it up. We informed the owner that the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka was prepared to provide a land belonging to them in any industrial zone or investment zone, free.Then the owner agreed. We will take steps to provide all facilities required free.
“We are not trying to justify this attack carried out by thugs, by doing this.We see this attack as a strong blow targeted at our entire investment field. Whoever did it, we condemn this attack thoroughly. Legal action should be taken against them. A special investigation is underway regarding this incident, at present. Instructions have been given to punish those who are found guilty, without taking into consideration their status and carry out legal procedures,”the State Minister said.(CDN)
May 10, 2023