Sathosa, biggest supermarket chain soon

Irangika RANGE

The Sathosa network will be turned into the biggest supermarket chain in Sri Lanka with 150 trade stalls at the end of this year.

Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardena told the Daily News that consumers had expressed satisfaction over the Government's effort and a large number of consumers have begun to purchase essential commodities from the Sathosa outlets islandwide. He said that prices in almost all the essential goods in the market have been slashed after the new Sathosa outlets were opened in the country.

Meanwhile, the 120th Sathosa outlet was opened in Kurunegala yesterday to offer essential consumer items at reasonable prices.

"We provide an efficient and high-quality customer service by providing essential items at reasonable prices through 120 sales outlets from Point Pedro to Dondra Head despite the challenges of inflation existing in the country," he explained.

The Minister further said that the Government's main concern is to bring down the prevailing high prices of essential goods and providing relief to the people.

The Government, private traders and the Sathosa would have to compete with each other which would ultimately lead to lower prices in essential goods," the Minister said.

He said Sathosa which maintained a long term relationship with customers through a high quality consumer service, was driven to bankruptcy by the previous Government many employees lost their jobs.

Realizing the immense service rendered to society by Sathosa, the Government under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa allocated huge sums of money for the first time in its history to revive Sathosa.

"A record sales growth rate had been achieved by several Sathosa outlets for the first time last year as a result of the restructuring of the institution," he noted.