Sri Lankan garment workers demand movement to protect rights Clothing factory workers hard hit as the economy reels from the Covid-19 crisis Trending A report on the social and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic on free trade zone workers in Sri Lanka was launched on Dec. 17. (Photo: Melani Manel). Niranjalee Sudhammika, a Sri Lankan garment factory worker, lost her job in April and has not received any compensation from the factory or the government. She was hired by a manpower agency and received her wages at the end of the month through the agency after commission was deducted. The owner of her boarding house in Minuwangoda warned her that if she returned to work in a garment factory, she would not be allowed to stay in the accommodation as hundreds of clothing factory workers had contracted the coronavirus at their workplace.