MINISTER of Trade and Consumer Affairs Bandula Gunawardene said the Sim card in Prabhakaran’s cellular telephone has revealed vital information on the activities of several leading personalities in the south. Addressing a meeting on Sunday (24) at the Dambulla Economic Centre, he said the pro-LTTE elements in the south were responsible for many crises in the country and the price hikes in the local market.
The minister further said, “Legislation to streamline the distribution of vegetables and fruits would be passed soon to provide a remunerative market for the farmer and to supply fresh vegetables and fruits to the consumer and that the traders will be required to transport vegetables and fruits in plastic baskets and not in the gunny bags under the proposed legislation. Department of Agriculture will implement the scheme.
The government has envisaged a plan to establish economic centres in Jaffna, Batticaloa and Kalkudah under the ongoing development plans for the Northern and the Eastern provinces. Opening of the A9 highway gave a new impetus to the supply of vegetables and fruits to the market. A team of 12 cabinet ministers have been appointed to control the cost of living. However, it is sad that I am the easiest target of the cartoonists. We must protect the farmers and the consumers as well. With this in view, the government increased the customs duty on imports by 100 per cent. The economic centres prevented the monopoly of trade and profiteering. I am confident that no other minister of trade in the world has knowledge of economics as I.”
Provincial Council Member Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, Divisional Secretary R.M.C.M. Herath, Chairman of Dambulla Pradeshiya Sabha K.G. Somatilleke, Vice Chairman Jaliya Opatha, Manager of the Economic Centre Christie Wijeratne, President of the Trader Association Mangala Wijeratne and Chairman of the Cooperative Society K.G. Abeyratne attended the meeting. (Courtesy: Daily Mirror)
