Daily News Online
   

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

Home

 | SHARE MARKET  | EXCHANGE RATE  | TRADING  | OTHER PUBLICATIONS   | ARCHIVES | 

dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Govt stands firm on plastic crates issue

The government will not relax or withdraw the regulation on the mandatory use of plastic or wooden crates when transporting vegetables and fruits, Internal Trade and Cooperative Minister Johnston Fernando said at a media briefing at the ministry yesterday. "The government introduced this regulation to provide fresh and quality fruits and vegetables for consumers and provide a good price for farmers. About 30 to 40 percent of fruits and vegetables go waste due to improper transportation. This results in a loss of around Rs 20 billion," the minister said.

Fernando said that certain elements were trying to spread rumours regarding this to gain political advantage.

Protests were started by some farmers and businessmen against the mandatory use of plastic or wooden crates to transport vegetables and fruits.

This regulation will not effect people who transport vegetables to their homes and three wheelers and land masters which transport vegetables or fruits. Only the large-scale fruit and vegetable transporting vehicles will come under probe, he said.

"After a discussion with Colombo Manning Market businessmen, the ministry agreed to solve matters without relaxing the regulations. The ministry will provide a separate place to store fruits and vegetables as they have limited storage facilities in their stores.

The ministry has sent 100 lorries to transport vegetable and if there is a vegetable shortage in Colombo, the Narahenpita Economic Centre will be converted into a wholesale vegetable market. Nuwara Eliya farmers have also agreed to use plastic crates," the minister said.

He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa always gave priority to farmers. "Farmers lose five to 10 percent of their produce during transportation. This will not happen if they use plastic crates. With the introduction of the new regulation, farmers can get a good price for their produce," the minister said.

He said that about 200,000 plastic crates were sold at Dambulla and Thambuttegama economic centres by yesterday.

The crates are produced locally. About 200,000 crates were issued by the Agriculture Ministry as a subsidy.

One million crates have been produced and released to the market. The ministry has taken measures to rent crates at Rs 50 per week.

If somebody doesn't agree with the regulation under these facilities, there definitely has to be some political or personal motive, Fernando said.

The Minister said, according to information he received a person selling sacks was behind the protest at the Meegoda Economic Centre.

"If a stall owner of economic centre tries to create problems regarding this matter, the ministry will seal their stalls," he said.

Consumer Affairs Authority chairman Rumy Marzook said of the 16 lorries checked yesterday only four lorries transported fruits and vegetables without crates.

"They were taken into custody and a Rs 2000 fine was imposed.

 

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

Executive Residencies - Colombo - Sri Lanka
Gift delivery in Sri Lanka and USA
Kapruka Online Shopping
www.apiwenuwenapi.co.uk
LANKAPUVATH - National News Agency of Sri Lanka
www.army.lk
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL)
www.news.lk
www.defence.lk
Donate Now | defence.lk

| News | Editorial | Business | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2011 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor