Farmers’ organization alleges plan to hand over economic centres to JVP-linked company

• Points out that the Minister has taken this decision without consulting the views of the business community, the farmers or the consumers to meet the demands of the JVP

By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa 

The Dambulla National Farmers’ Organization yesterday alleged that the government is planning to transfer the management of the country’s economic centres to a company comprising members affiliated with the JVP.  

Speaking to media, National Farmer Organization President Anuradha Thennakoon has warned that it will launch a massive islandwide protest against the government’s reported decision to hand over the management of economic centres to a private company.

He pointed out that the Minister has taken this decision without consulting the views of the business community, the farmers or the consumers to meet the demands of the JVP.   

President of Dambulla Economic Centre Trader Organization C. S. Siriwardene pointed out that the Economic Centres in the country have been managed efficiently for the last 28 years and his organization would take legal action against the arbitrary decision of the government. He said the farmers supplying agricultural produce are the backbone of Economic Centres and that the government should have consulted their views, He challenged the Minister to bring under his company the Economic Centres that have been closed or not been opened and to make them profit-making ventures.   

President of Thambuttegama Economic Centre Trader Association Sunil Seneviratne, representative of Nuwara Eliya Farmer Organisations Tharindu Ratnayaka, Secretary of Manning All Ceylon Trader Organisation Roshan Cooray, President of Keppetipola Economic Centre Trader Organisation S.E.R.Bandusena and Convenor of Govijana Paura Organisation Nalinda addressed the media conference.