Ceylon Tea exports face curbs in lockdown tea hub
View(s):While the tea hub of Sri Lanka located in the Gampaha district that is currently facing a lockdown, is operating amidst constraints, the supply chain is expected to continue smoothly. The coronavirus outbreak in Gampaha has led to a complete lockdown of the district since last Wednesday night.
Sri Lanka’s main tea warehouses of brokers and factories and warehouses of exporters have always been located in the tea hub of Gampaha in areas like Peliyagoda, Wattala and Welisara, and the lockdown is worrying exporters, Colombo Tea Traders Association (CTTA) Chairman Jayantha Karunaratne told the Business Times on Thursday. He explained that they have obtained the necessary permission to carry out their operations but with a reduced workforce that has dropped by about 25 per cent.
“We have started working – there is no problem to go to work but the number of people attending work has reduced,” he said.
Mr. Karunaratne pointed out that they are at all times taking the necessary precautions by conducting the usual meetings on how to prevent the COVID-19 outbreak and protect the company and people.
He also noted that on Friday October 16 and again on Friday October 23, they were to carry out random PCR tests on their employees.
The essential staff is being deployed while some continue to work from home since some have expressed concern over reporting to work given the current outbreak of the coronavirus, he noted.
While there could be delays due to the reduced workforce, exporters do not expect a major volume reduction due to the present situation.
Some of the departments like the accounts and shipping are operating with half the staff from office and half from home, Mr. Karunaratne said.
“Locking down has a major problem to the people and economy,” Mr. Karunaratne said adding that the people should be disciplined and not simply enforce lockdowns.
He pointed out that people should be asked to be vigilant about their neighbours and whereabouts when residing at boarding houses.
Gampaha is a tea hub for Ceylon tea due to its proximity to the port and the fact that most employees are residents of this district.
The exporters are still carrying out discussions on whether to shift next week’s auction by one day due to some delays that are expected taking into consideration the current circumstances.
(SD)