Temperature controlled warehouse inaugurated in Dambulla during PM Modi’s visit not yet operational

There is more work to be done before it is operational. They must realise that this is not for excess produce at the next door Dambulla market as many think. It is for farmers to grow for storage

The temperature -controlled warehouse in Dambulla which was inaugurated during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not yet operational, an opposition MP has found.  

The warehouse  was inaugurated jointly by the Indian Prime Minister and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in virtual mode. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva who played a role in the initiation of the project earlier as a then Minister visited the warehouse recently. 

 “There is more work to be done before it is operational. They must realise that this is not for excess produce at the next door Dambulla market as many think. It is for farmers to grow for storage. They must be trained to grow using GAP (good agricultural practices) suited for storage. So it will take another six months at least,” he said.  

He said the business plan should be worked.  

“It was designed as a multi stakeholder structure with farmer associations represented on the board. I had proposed something called ‘social shares’ for farmers without putting in money into the company Logistics operators must be given the opportunity to bid and take one or more of the six chambers each,” he said.