Sri Lanka’s human rights campaigners have urged the government to take immediate action and limit a third wave of COVID-19 in the country's garment factories. The Sri Lankan garment sector has recorded thousands of COVID positive cases with a large number of patients dying. Sister Noel Christine Fernando, Head, Sramabimani Kendraya rights group, said, the rapidly spreading virus is endangering the lives of the workers.

One garment factory, in Katuwellegama, was closed after 50 workers were found to be positive in random tests. All workers were subsequently tested and 300 found to be positive. In another garment factory, in Katunayake, 100 workers tested positive.

Four humans rights groups - Sramabimani Kendraya, Dabindu Collective Sri Lanka, Revolutionary Existence for Human Development and Standup Movement Lanka - urged factory owners to reimburse workers for all COVID-related losses. They have urged for full salaries of workers whose factories were closed due to high COVID-19 prevalence. They also requested the government to pay workers currently in quarantine.

A third COVID-19 wave started spreading across Sri Lanka in April. A total of 142,746 cases and 962 deaths have been reported, although some experts claim the true figures are much higher.