Q: How has your organisation helped mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis?

As the group distributes and retails pharmaceuticals, we wanted to ensure that it was as proactive as possible due to the critical nature of these services to the community.

In this regard, our entire supply line was organised to prioritise safety and security from the port, all the way to the distribution of pharmaceuticals. Our motive throughout wasn’t to maximise profits but rather, ensure that pharmaceutical services were uninterrupted and readily available to the public during this critical juncture.

Similarly, on the diagnostics side of things, our service teams worked throughout the curfew to ensure that equipment in hospitals were being serviced properly.

As our tea manufacturing facilities were in operation, we also had the opportunity to distribute tea to quarantine facilities.

Due to the scarcity of state ICU beds, we tried to do our part and give back to the Sri Lankan public by purchasing 12 ICU beds, which were in high demand globally and being sold at a premium in early April.

Similarly, we donated 1,000 PCR tests to the government in order to contribute and help the state meet its immediate needs during what was an unprecedented period.

Q: And last but not least, has your organisation taking steps to help staff overcome the fallout from the protracted lockdown? And if so, what measures have you taken?

It has been our ultimate priority throughout the duration of the extended curfew to ensure that our workforce of more than 1,500 staff is safe and secure.

We have been fortunate not to have had a crisis regarding payments as some other companies have. A decision was made during the curfew that there would be no closure of business, salary cuts, layoffs or reductions across the workforce.

That being said, while arranging for employees to get to work, providing meals and sending them back was tough during this time, we made sure that operations ran smoothly with as little hindrance to staff as possible.

While our dedicated team was at work, we wanted them to know that their health and wellbeing was a priority over business and profits during these unprecedented times.

In addition and to avoid complications arising from the new working order created by the pandemic, steps were also taken to ensure the availability of psychological support, counselling, coaching, education and resource management advice for all staff.

For staff members with children at home who were unable to attend school, the group arranged to provide computers on special schemes so that their learning could continue uninterrupted from home – and in some instances, certain members of staff were given computers free of charge.