Addressing a news conference at his ministry yesterday Minister Gunawardana said the new economic zones would be established in Omanthai, Jaffna and Mannar in the North and in Batticaloa in the East.

“Our objective is to give a good price for the agricultural produce of the north-east farmers. There were allegations that farmers in the North did not get a satisfactory price for their produce brought to the Dambulla Economic Center. The consumers in the South complain that they pay exorbitant prices when they buy vegetables and fruits produced in the north. The fruit and vegetable farmers in the up country also complain that they cannot get a good price for their product at Dambulla. We expect the new economic centres will provide answers to these issues,” Minister Gunawardana said.

Branch offices of the Consumer Affairs Authority will be set up at all economic centres to monitor the price fluctuation of vegetables, fruits and other agricultural products and also the weighing and measuring. About 1,000 metric tonnes of vegetables are sold daily at the  Dambulla Economic Centre alone.

Minister Gunawardana lamented that between 30% to 35% of vegetables and fruits are wasted during transport and packaging. This can be avoided if farmers use plastic containers to pack their produce. Unfortunately majority of farmers do not like plastic packaging, he said.

“However, if we can contain the amount of perishing of vegetables and fruits, the prices of them can also be reduced to a great extent,” he added.

Dambulla Economic Centre Traders Association President Mangala Wijeratna and Secretary I.G.Wijenanda also spoke.

Ministry Secretary Lalith de Silva was also present at the news briefing.