Most of the workers come from remote rural areas such as Anuradhapura and Polonnaruva in the North Central Province and Matara in the Southern Province. ISIN Lanka, a threadmaking factory, is a joint venture with Indonesian partners and received free trade zone financial and tax concessions. Conditions in the factory are poor. It is noisy and workers complain that the mixture of dust and cotton particles in the air makes them sick. They are not provided with face masks.
Workers are angry about being forced to return to work.
The trade union is responsible for the severe regulations workers now face. He did not come to address the workers. We do not believe this union. Another worker explained that during the strike local people had donated food and accommodation. They accepted the repressive laws.