Divi neguma weekly fairs countrywide

Developing weekly fairs throughout Sri Lanka under the divi Neguma sathipola concept will make the Mahinda Chinthana Vision a reality since sathi polas had served the island’s economy as barter exchange centres in towns and villages and became part of the nation’s culture and lifestyle, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.

The minister made this observation when he opened the modernised weekly fair at Bopitiya, Wattala. It was built with funds allocated to the Economic Development Ministry. Sathipola has earned a special place among people in 36,000 villages belonging to 14,000 grama seva divisions since they comprise

80 percent of the population including those living in the plantation areas, Minister Rajapaksa said. The divi naguma sathi pola at Bopitiya, Wattala covers an extent of one-and-half acres where 150 stalls have been built. The planning and construction of the new fair premises was carried out by the Western Province Road Development Authority under the direction of Western Provincial Council Minister Nimal Lansa. Minister Rajapaksa said the new fair will give people the opportunity for barter trading, marketing products from other areas and buying consumer and household items at reasonable prices.

He said this reflected President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s objective of making people enjoy the true benefits of development.

The minister emphasised the need for traders, Pradeshiya Sabha officials and consumers to protect and properly maintain the premises of the fair since it has been constructed with public funds.

He said the lack of maintenance was the cause of the deterioration and destruction of such project. The primary responsibility of maintaining the place however rests with the Pradeshiya Sabha, the minister said. The sathipola, the minister recalled, had evolved since ancient times.

“Today it gives businessmen the opportunity to sell unsold items remaining at their sales outlets and to obtain services they require. These fairs also provide self-employed persons with the opportunity of selling the items they manufacture or produce. It is also an ideal market for excess products.”

The minister said the Gampaha district alone has 47 such weekly fairs. Minister Rajapaksa said: “We are also modernising among others maternal clinics, village roads, provincial roads and main roads. The long-standing problems facing the village are being solved with the intervention of the priest of the area. We hope to undertake development work in accordance with the law, without harming the natural environment and wildlife.

“This area is a marshy land and conserving the water there is a vital. Filling up the place almost amounts to committing suicide. When we started work here, the area was experiencing floods because canals were blocked. Now we are in the process of dealing with illegal constructions. Yet filling up is continuing at some places and officials are responsible for allowing this to continue. I request all officials, the pradeshiya sabhas and the Police to take action to rectify this situation.

“No matter how powerful a person is, I urge the people not allow him to violate the law. Today the President has ensured the people’s right to live and revived the economy.”