Veggie and fruit market on 16 acres in Peliyagoda

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

A sixteen-acre land in Peliyagoda will be developed as the city vegetable and fruit market, said Cooperatives and Internal Trade Additional Secretary Priyantha Mayadunne. The Cabinet recently decided to shift the Manning Market to Peliyagoda.

The Additional Secretary said that the Government hopes to complete the project before the end of this year.

Referring to the use of plastic crates to transport vegetables and fruits, he said the regulations governing plastic crates will be made compulsory from January 15. Farmers are free to transport their produce from the farms to the wholesale centres as they do at present.

Only 11 varieties of vegetables will be transported in plastic crates, as agreed upon by the vegetable traders Associations and farmer organisations, he said.

He said that several proposals are being considered to set up a National Supplies Network of vegetables and fruits to curb the waste of vegetables and fruits being transported from agricultural districts to Colombo and other commercial centres.