Economic Centres in Sri Lanka have failed to be reality: Minister

Colombo, June 7 (Daily Mirror) - Trade and Food Security Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe admitted in Parliament yesterday that all economic centres in Sri Lanka have failed to achieve their intended objectives and have not been realistic. 

He also revealed that a Cabinet Paper has been submitted proposing reforms to their managements.

“There are 14 active economic centres in the country, but each operates under a different system. None of them are fulfilling the purpose for which they were established,” the Minister said, responding to an oral question raised by MP Hesha Withanage.

Economic centres were initially set up to provide essential food items to the public at stable prices, while also ensuring a balance between supply and demand, particularly for fruits and vegetables. 

However, the Minister acknowledged that these goals have not been met.

He highlighted logistical delays as a major issue, noting that it can take up to two days for produce to reach some centres. For instance, transporting goods from Dambulla or Thambuttegama to the Narahempita Economic Centre takes at least 48 hours.

Minister Samarasinghe also pointed out the financial shortcomings of these centres, stating that the government has invested Rs. 1,400 million in their construction but has yet to recover these costs.

To address some of the inefficiencies, he said the government plans to install digital screens at centres such as Narahenpita and Meegoda, which will display real-time price information from Dambulla and  Thambuttegama a major agricultural hub.