More fish and vegetables from Jaffna

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Three hundred and fifty metric tonnes of fish and three thousand eight hundred metric tonnes of vegetables and fruits from Jaffna were sent to Colombo and Dambulla during the last couple of weeks, an highly placed official of the Jaffna Secretariat said.

He said that fish, vegetables and fruits supplies would continue to be sent to Colombo and Dambulla through the A-9 Road by Cooler Trucks and lorries.

The July food commodity bulletin of Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HKARTI) stated that fish, vegetables and fruit prices in the Pettah and St. John's Markets have come down recently. Large stocks of Jaffna produce including 40 metric tonnes of red onions, cut beetroot, green chillies and capsicum were received daily at the Dambulla Economic Centre during the last few weeks, said a Senior official of the Marketing Division HKARTI.

The wholesale prices of a kilo of red onions, cut beetroot, green chillies and capsicum were Rs. 40, Rs 35, Rs. 60 and Rs. 55 respectively, he explained.

The benefit of the slashed prices should be passed on to the consumers, it is not happening at all, he said.

Meanwhile Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that the facilities at Narahenpita and Ratmalana Dedicated Economic Centres would be further expanded to accommodate the increased inflow of vegetables and other food commodities produced in Jaffna and other parts of the country.