Minister Samarasinghe challenged by traders over transfer of management of economic centers

By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa  

A tense atmosphere prevailed during a conference convened by Minister of Trade and Commerce and Food Security Wasantha Samarasingha to announce the government’s decision to handover the management of five Economic Centers In the Country to the National Agri Marketing Service Company.  

The business community strongly protested against the move and it resulted in tense arguments between the minister and the traders.   

Traders pointed out that they had maintained the services of the Economic Centres for more than 30 years quite efficiently and that they are opposed to the government’s decision to appoint a group of individuals of the minster’s choice without any formal agreements to manage these already profit making institutions.  

The minister said the National Agri Services Company has been formed to streamline the affairs of the Economic Centres and to provide a fair market for the people.

He said the Economic Centres at Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya, Thambuttegam, Keppetipola and Narahenpita would be under the management of the company and that the monthly rent should be paid to the company from this month.   

He pointed out that the National Agri Market Service Company is a government owned business under taking and that the business community and the farmers would not be deprived of their rights.  

However the business community who refused the minister’s proposal accused him of forming a company without the knowledge of the traders and handing over the management of their business enterprises to the company. They pointed out that the minister had obtained cabinet approval for a company called National Agri Market Private Limited and that they have gone to court against it.   

They said that the minister has secretly changed the business name of the company as National Agri Market Service Limited for which he has not received the cabinet approval. The traders pointed out that they have saved funds amounting to Rs. 250 million for the Management Trust of the economic centres. They expressed concern about the step taken by the government which they voted to power.  

Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce, Matale District Parliamentarian Sunil Biyanwila, and several senior officials were present at the occasion.