"Complaint filed with HRCSL over unsafe quarantine process", 17 October 2020

A complaint has been filed with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) over the alleged arbitrary and illegal manner in which factory workers were recently rounded up.

The complaint also alleges the cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment of the factory workers as well as restriction on their freedom of movement and discrimination based on economic and social status of the workers.

The complaint has been made by Chamila Thushari, Chandra Devanarayana, Ashila Dandeniya and Sr. Noel Christine Fernando who represent organisations that work extensively with Free Trade Zone (FTZ) factory workers who are majority women...

The HRCSL has been requested to inquire in to the conduct of the Respondents Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva and the Sri Lankan Military Officers towards the 98 garment factory workers, as all workers are under real threat of contracting COVID due to the manner in which these illegal and arbitrary rounding up and detention has been carried out.