DECs go North

Chaminda PERERA

The Trade, Marketing, Cooperative Development and Consumer Affairs Ministry is exploring possibility to set up Dedicated Economic Centres (DECs) in the North to provide essential commodities to the public at cheaper rate.

According to Trade, Marketing, Cooperative Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena, the Dedicated Economic Centres would provide a better service to the consumers and the producers alike. He said the producers are constantly exploited by the middlemen and these centres will also help them save from middlemen.

The Minister said five Lak Sathosa branches are in operation in the North and consumers are provided essential goods at cheaper rates from these centres. The Ministry established five Lak Sathosa branches in the North.

“The displaced civilians are greatly relieved as five Lak Sathosa branches were established for the benefit of civilians in the Kadirgarmarpuram, Manik Farm Zone I, II and III.

The Lak Sathosa branches provide essential items to these civilians at cheaper rate in addition to what is provided by the Government free of charge.

The Minister said he expects to open STC outlets and Co-op cities in the newly liberated areas in the North too under the Uthuru Wasanthaya program. We have a STC branch in Jaffna and few more branches are expected to set up in the Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya districts in the future.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Information Technology will soon initiate special courses on Information Technology, Accountancy and English for the children of displaced citizens in the North.

“The children of displaced citizens can get cutting edge knowledge on IT, English and Accountancy through this program”, the Minister added.