Exhibition to showcase Mahaweli produce
by Shirjiv SIRIMANE
For decades Mahaweli farmers have been silently contributing to the
economy of the country; their produce was exported, bringing large
amounts of revenue to Sri Lanka.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Director General Mahaweli
Authority P.M.C. Dissanayake at a stall |

Products on display |
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Director General of the Mahaweli Authority, P.M.C. Dissanayake said
that one of the biggest problems the farmers faced was the lack of a
market which do not bring them much revenue.
"What the farmers do is sell the produce in the village itself.
Some times the middle man makes a bigger profit than the farmer," he
said.
In a bid to iron out this problem the Mahaweli Authority under the
guidance of Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management Nimal
Siripala De silva is hosting, for the first time an exhibition of
Mahaweli produce at the Vihara Maha Devi Park.
The objective of the fair and exhibition is to create a direct market
for the products of the Mahaweli farmers and act as a link between
Colombo and the Mahaweli area.
"It will expose the Mahaweli farmer to the city and help them not
only to get a high price for their produce but also to find buyers and
even investors to move ahead."
He said some colombo businessmen have already entered in to joint
partnerships with Mahaweli farmers while some have already formed direct
sale links with Colombo entrepreneurs and even factories.
The Mahaweli Janadivi Aruna trade exhibition commenced on Friday and
will conclude today. Entrance is free.
Over 200 stalls are on display and Dissanayake said a unique feature
of this exhibition is that it offers products that could never be
purchased in Colombo. "There are varieties of rice Rath Thambili,
Suwandel, Mawil and Masuran which are now almost extinct. These
traditional rice varieties which are very healthy are on sale here.
He said similarly, the Tome JC mango tree, which produces a 500 gram
mango sold at around Rs. 800, is also on sale here. We have sold over
5,000 of these trees".
The Mahaweli Janadivi Aruna trade exhibition will also have
handicrafts and other items produced by Mahaweli farming families.
Ornamental fish are another attraction at the exhibition.
One of the exhibitors, H.M.C. Bandara of Thuru Sevana Nursery in
System B said that he cannot meet the demand for his products. "The
chilli and vegetable plants are very much in demand," he said.
This is the first time he is participating in an exhibition of this
nature in Colombo.
The Minister said that the success of the exhibition has prompted
them to make this an annual event.
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