MP Kaviratne faults govt for 2.7 mn kilos of vegetables wasted at Dambulla Economic Centre

Matale District SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne yesterday (2) alleged that over 2.7 million kilos of vegetables at Dambulla special economic centre would go to waste as there was none to purchase them.

 In a statement issued to the media, MP Kaviratne said that the suppliers and farmers transported vegetables to the economic centre planning to send them to Colombo after the end of the weekend quarantine curfew. However, the government extended the curfew on Sunday and many traders who were expected to visit the economic center did not turn up yesterday. The government acted in an ad hoc manner with no concern for the suppliers and as a result vegetables weighing as much as 2.7 million kilos would go to waste.

 “Farmers faced the same predicament when the government imposed a countrywide curfew in March. It is so unfortunate that none of the government MPs from the Matale District has done anything to redress the grievances of the farmers or to highlight their issues. What prevails in the Dambulla economic centre is a tragedy. People in the Western Province are unable to consume vegetables and fruits while farmers in Dambulla have to destroy their produce due to unwise government decisions. The government simply does not know how to manage the demand and supply. It is pathetic that the media institutions too do not highlight these issues.”