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| Sunday, 8 September 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Meegoda Economic Centre off the ground in Nov. by Surekha Galagoda The 24 hour active Meegoda Economic Centre built at a cost of Rs. 60 million will get off the ground in Mid November. Established as a public private sector partnership the centre will give a boost to wholesale and retail trading and exporting of fruits and vegetables. The main aim of establishing economic centres are providing employment opportunities and raising the rural economy by developing agriculture. The Meegoda Centre built on a four acre block will have 75 stalls and cool room facilities. It will attract the vegetable and fruit suppliers of the Southern region, upcountry from Hatton and Nuwara Eliya as well as rice from Gampaha. The Meegoda station will be developed and a special railway service will run between Colombo and Meegoda to facilitate not only the transport of goods, but also the consumers who could travel to Meegoda for the weekly supply of fruits vegetables and rice. A Trust will be established to manage the Centre to ensure the smooth functioning of the centre. The centre has been financed jointly by the public sector and the private sector. Minister of Rural Economy and Deputy Minister of Finance, Bandula Gunawardena said the empty land in the neighbouring villages will be planted with the vegetables and fruits required by exporters. The Centre will be linked to Export processing villages which will be managed by peoples companies. Exporters will own 51%, Villages 28% while the Ministry of rural Economy and Export Development Board will own 16% and 5% respectively. Once the company is established and smooth flowing the ministry and EDB will move out giving the ownership to Exporters and villagers who will own 51% and 49% respectively, he added. |
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