FTZMA slams govt. for power cuts, social unrest

• Expresses disappointment over how govt. is handling current situation 
• Says unrest is due to govt.’s failure to provide basic necessities to people
• Says its members respect employees exercising their democratic rights in response to hardships
• Highlights imminent danger of major disruption due to employee unrest
• Points out current situation of country is not conducive for business 
• Urges govt. to establish a solid recovery path back to sustainability and prosperity

The Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association (FTZMA) in a letter to President’s Secretary Gamini Senarath has expressed its disappointment over how the government is managing the current situation in the country and directly faulted the authorities for the ongoing power cuts.

“We wish to draw your urgent attention to the current atmosphere in the country and in the BOI enterprises in particular in the island, due to lack of continued power supply, fuel and gas shortages, etc. 

As you are aware, the BOI exporters are the ones who bring foreign exchange into the country and therefore, we are much perturbed by the current uncertainty and unrest prevailing in the country, due to the government’s failure to provide the basic necessities to the people and our employees, who are going through sever hardships. 
We respect our valuable employees exercising their democratic rights in response to such hardships by expressing their resentment in a democratic and peaceful manner,” the letter said.

“We, as an industry collective, has been always helping economic well-being of the country. It is therefore we believe the responsibility of a government is to ensure smooth operations of the industry. The current situation of the country is not at all conducive to such. Considering this, we shall express our disappointment of the way your government is managing the situation, as there is an imminent danger of major disruption, due to employee unrest,” it added.

 Hence, the FTZMA urged the government to establish a solid recovery path back to sustainability and prosperity.“This is the fervent hope of hundred strong membership of our association and their employees,” the letter read.