Narahenpita Economic Centre to be revamped

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

The special Economic Centre at Narahenpita, Colombo will be fully refurbished and transformed into a full-fledged business centre before the end of this year under an action plan implemented by the Co-operatives and Internal Trade Ministry.

On a directive by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Jonhston Fernando made a surprise visit to the Narahenpita Economic Centre on Thursday and spent nearly five hours there to get first hand information on the current situation.

During his surprise visit, the Minister directed the authorities to immediately attend to several outstanding problems at the centre.

Various unauthorised constructions erected at the economic centre have resulted in the drainage system getting blocked. Steps would be taken to renovate major drains within a month, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

This economic centre is not properly planned or managed. Traders were warned to sell only the recommended items in their stalls and display the price lists, the Minister said.

He said a stall in the economic centre has been given over to a trader at a monthly rental of between Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 10,000. The Government’s intention of giving these stalls at such concessionary rates was to provide quality goods to the consumers at lower rates. However, the owners of some of these stalls have re-rented them out to others on a daily rent of Rs. 2,000. The Ministry has decided to immediately take over such stalls.

A new road network will also be constructed to ease the traffic congestion in the economic centre premises. The Minister also assured that except for the prices of coconut, the prices of all other consumer items have come down during this festive season compared to the prices in November and December last year. Imported stocks of chicken and eggs will be released to the local market soon.

This will result in reduced chicken and egg prices in the local market. Discussions are also under way to import coconuts to bring down the prices in the local market, he said.