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Unsold vegetables to be purchased by Government

09 Jun 2021

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (7) approved a programme to purchase stocks of vegetables and fruits which could not be sold by farmers during the travel restrictions. It was announced that these would be provided free of charge to Covid treatment centres, government hospitals, tri-forces, camps housing displaced persons, and families who have lost their livelihoods due to the ongoing travel restrictions. These goods are to be purchased through district secretaries and agents under the District Price Committee. “It has been identified that a major economic crisis is being faced by small and medium-scale farmers as well as large-scale farmers as their fresh produce is being destroyed due to an inability to transport and trade as normally with the enforcement of the ongoing travel restrictions,” the Government said. It was added that consumers are also facing a scarcity of vegetables and fruits at a fair price. Meanwhile, the Cabinet on Monday also approved a proposal to take necessary steps to provide the essential food items confiscated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Sri Lankan Customs to Lanka Sathosa Ltd. The proposal tabled by the Minister of Ports and Shipping and the Minister of Trade noted that Lanka Sathosa already implements a system to provide essential food items to the public at affordable prices without any shortage under the current Covid-19 pandemic situation. It was noted that this move would further the continuous and successful operation of the said system.


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