North to get four economic centres

Irangika RANGE

A new Lak Sathosa outlet, Co-op City outlet and a Mini Co-op City outlet will be opened in Jaffna soon so that private traders and the Government sector would have to compete with each other which would ultimately lead to a reduction in the prices of essential goods in the Jaffna peninsula, Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

Addressing a press-briefing in Colombo yesterday, the Minister said there could be price variations due to various reasons. Transport costs could increase prices but such high prices would come down when the new Laksathosa, Co-op City and Mini Co-op City outlets are opened shortly, he said.

"We have also planned to set up four new Dedicated Economic Centers (DECs) in the North and the East under the Uthuru Vasanthaya and Negenahira Udanaya programs to provide relief to consumers," the Minister said.

"The DECs will be constructed in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Omanthai and Mannar. The Ministry is carrying out the feasibility studies," he said. "The benefit to supply essential goods should reach the entire population of Jaffna. This is the main objective of the Government," he said.

The Minister said farmers' products perished when transporting, loading and unloading to DECs as farmers did not use proper packaging.

"We discussed this problem with farmers and will encourage them to use plastic packages by conducting awareness programs," he said.

He said a State Trading Corporation outlet will also be opened in Jaffna town.