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Sathosa Outlets to be computerised within a month: Bandula 

11 Mar 2021

Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardene stated that all Sathosa outlets and storerooms are to be computerised to avoid the illicit activities and ledger errors that have been recurring for several years, causing losses to the institution, yesterday (10) at Parliament.  Minister Gunawardene acknowledged the errors in the Sathosa ledger system, and the present inefficient computer system, which could have led to the possibility of theft in Sathosa storerooms as well.  He revealed this in response to a question by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Buddhika Pathirana regarding this matter. “If there is anything missing, or theft in storerooms, and to bill products properly, a computerised system is essential. Have you investigated this issue and what measures have you taken against this issue?” SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana asked.  Gunawardene responded by stating that investigations into the matter have begun, which are being overseen by the Ministry of Trade, and Gunawardene himself.  In addition to this, Gunawardene added, all Sathosa outlets and storerooms will be computerised by the newest technology within a month, which will reduce illicit activities such as theft. Moreover, MP Pathirana also added that he acknowledged and requested investigations on this issue, as he suspected that several parties were attempting to tamper with the system that was in place while he was the relevant State Minister.  Gunawardene noted that the previous tender system will be replaced by a forward exchange agreement system, as a measure taken to regularise Sathosa prices.  “As you may know, as you were working with Sathosa when you were the Government Minister, there was a tender system introduced. For the first time in history, we changed this system through a forward exchange agreement with local producers,” Gunawardene revealed.  To resolve this matter, the Ministry of Trade had advertised a meeting where local producers are able to pitch their preferred price to the Ministry. As a result, with the presence of the Ministry of Trade and other relevant official parties, a fixed price for producers and consumers was evaluated for commodities and goods available at Sathosa.  It was also mentioned that several private institutes also acknowledged the latest forward exchange agreement and the current prices evaluated from this system.  The previous tender system involved the management of both the consumer wishing to source products or services and the seller wishing to bid to supply a company, and the prices involved in this process.       


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