Nine individuals from multiple strategic business units (SBUs) of Expolanka PLC and situated in different locations have tested positive for COVID-19, the management said.

Major General (Rtd) Ubaya Medawela, the Head of Compliance and HSES at Expolanka PLC, said the patients have already been placed in government quarantine facilities.

Issuing a statement, he said Expolanka PLC actively began pursuing proactive COVID safety protocols and immediate measures in order to ensure the safety of all its employees since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.

“After conducting an extensive number of PCR tests, nine individuals from SBUs tested positive for COVID-19. It is believed that these staff members contracted the virus from external sources.

“We have engaged in tedious contact tracing and are conducting PCR tests for all remaining staff who have been found vulnerable.

“In accordance with the recent announcement made by the authorities, all staff members who were directly in contact have also been asked to self-quarantine.

As of early October, the group implemented a work from home policy for its employees with the exception of those involved in essential operations.