Exporters and export oriented manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka have requested authorities to facilitate their exports which are facing certain hurdles owing to the imposed in the country.

Exporters state that they are ready with export goods in their factory premises and that they are holding container release orders from the shipping line addressed to leading container yards in the country.

However, due to the curfew situation, the empty container yards are currently closed and they are unable to collect empty containers to load export cargo.

They say that in this situation, even the Colombo Port is open, Trico container weighing center is open, but they are paralyzed with their exports without empty containers.

Therefore export companies have requested request Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, who heads the National Operating center for prevention of COVID 19 Outbreak, to make necessary arrangements to facilitate their exports and to enable empty containers collection.

Meanwhile the Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundara has also requested Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva to facilitate the operations of export oriented manufacturing enterprises.

In a letter to the Army Chief, the Presidential Secretary states that many steps are being taken by the government to mitigate the possible negative impact of Covid-19 to the society at large and that it will be absolutely necessary to ensure that the economic functions of the country shall continue to be undertaken unabated.

He states that in this context export oriented manufacturing enterprises are advised that operation of their enterprises shall be carried out subject to the concerned management taking required measured to protect the employees by following all health and safety procedures as had been advised.

The Secretary to the President further states that the relevant government institutions will continue to provide all services even with a skeleton staff.

In this background, the Presidential Secretary requests the Army Chief to communicate suitable working arrangements with precautionary measures in their operations.