Over two million visit Divi Neguma Avurudu fairs

The number of people making purchases at the Divi Neguma Avurudu fairs now being held in 407 main towns countrywide under the guidance of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa is expected to reach three million.

The ministry has organized the fairs with the assistance of 19 state organizations including the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority, Agrarian Development Department, Lak Sathosa, Second Community Development & Livelihood Improvement Project and the Cooperative Development Department. The fairs which began on April 5 will end today.

Textiles, fresh vegetables, fruits, sweets, rice, coconuts, powdered milk, dry rations, spices, plants, ornamental fish, products of small industrialists and meat products were among the many items available under one roof at all these places. Twelve thousand rural producers have contributed to the success of the fairs.

In the Colombo District a Divi Neguma fair has been organized at Battaramulla near the Diyawanna Oya with the participation of businessmen and producers from the North among many others. This fair comprises 120 stalls where food and other products from various parts of the country are available.

Young people from the North selling their products at this fair have visited Colombo for the first time after decades of war. Their products include rice flour, hand loom textiles, kotta kelengu, palmyra products, travelling bags, flour and dry fish.

The Divi Neguma fairs island-wide include ones at the Anuradhapura Municipal Council play ground, Puttalam Municipal Council Hall, Polonnaruwa Thopawewa School play ground, Wellayawa Pradeshiya Sabha ground, Moneragala Mahanama Vidyala play ground, Vavuniya Gamini Maha Vidyalaya play ground, Kilinochchi Pradeshiya Sabha market building, Mannar A.L. Azar Maha Vidyalaya. Jaffna Parithanarachchi Amman temple, Ampara Municipal Council Hall, Baudulla Wills Park Ground, Ratnapura Seewali school ground, Hambantota and the Tisamaharama playground.