‘‘Brandix did not manufacture COVID Company gives its side of the story

•  The PCR tests were conducted on all 168 passengers by Durdans Hospital and the army then took control
• People have to understand that Brandix has not manufactured COVID inside their factory
• It was not Brandix who decided to land the flight in Mattala
• The company also had thermal screening machines installed in all its plants

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

Brandix Lanka has voiced its hurt against the increasing levels of harassment against its employees since one of its workers tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct.3, and has called on society to unite to overcome the existing crisis. 

Brandix Group Finance Director and Managing Director of the company’s Indian operations, Hasitha Premaratne told Daily Mirror in an exclusive interview that since the first patient was detected in its Minuwangoda factory, Brandix employees, on all levels, faced a backlash from society and these included one of their buses, which was carrying its employees to another factory, being stoned by unknown groups, Brandix teams not being allowed to enter some villages when they went to offer relief to its employees in their homes, and buses and three wheelers refusing to take Brandix employees from other locations.  

Premaratne said their employees were undergoing ‘hell’ at the way society was now looking and treating them. “This has really hurt us. What can the girl on the ground do? This is how society is treating them. It brings tears to our eyes. This needs to change. What wrong have they done?”  

Premaratne further reiterated that no Indian national had arrived in the three flights which the company had chartered from Visakhapatnam and no Indian national had visited the Minuwangoda plant. He further said that all its returnees were Sri Lankan citizens who had undergone the necessary quarantine period and the company was in possession of all the necessary certificates from the army and PHIs.  

The company has also appointed an independent committee to probe the allegations by one of its employees who claimed that workers were forced to work with fever in the Minuwangoda plant and has assured that if these claims was factual, appropriate action would be taken. 

• The company has also appointed an independent committee to probe the allegations
• since the first patient was detected in its Minuwangoda factory, Brandix employees, on all levels, faced a backlash from society

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