The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, at the Adjournment today, I move:

¶ 02 Dedicated Economic Centres are a bridge connecting Sri Lankan vegetable farmers and wholesale traders.

¶ 03 Currently, all 14 Dedicated Economic Centres (DECs) in Sri Lanka operate under a management committee led by the respective District Secretary and Divisional Secretary, providing a good service to the farming communities.

¶ 04 However, by the message presented on 2025.05.07 by the Minister of Trade, it has been proposed to convert all Economic Centres into a limited company and to vest their land, buildings, etc., in that company within six months. It is proposed to appoint 14 managers for the 14 DECs, and decisions will be taken by those managers.

¶ 05 By converting these DECs into a limited company without considering farmers and the public, there is a risk that public assets will be transferred to a company.

¶ 06 Therefore, I propose that, considering these concerns, the Bill to convert the Dedicated Economic Centres into a limited company be immediately withdrawn.

¶ 07 Hon. Deputy Chair, already a decision has been taken by the Ministry of Trade and Consumer Affairs to hand over the 14 DECs to a private company named National Agri Market Services Limited. Since 1999, DECs were established and have operated successfully with farmers. There were no issues requiring this change. These centres function under the respective District and Divisional Secretaries. On what basis is this now being handed to a private company?

¶ 08 The power to appoint the board is with the Minister; appointments cannot be made without the Minister’s approval. People affected by this decision have had to go to court. A District Secretary is not a company; he is the Government’s accounting officer. For example, under the Badulla District Secretary, the Welimada Divisional Secretary oversees the Keppetipola DEC, yet this has been handed to a company. If there are issues of accountability or misuse, the Minister can appoint an additional representative from the Ministry to oversee the centre. Why take over all 14 centres when there are other priorities? There is strong opposition; please meet the stakeholders and hear their objections.

¶ 09 The Keppetipola DEC renders a major service. The Deputy Minister also visited and spoke to stakeholders. Funds have been allocated for improvements like roofing. Why pursue this now? Acting amid public opposition is not good for the Government. There are issues in Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya, and Keppetipola. Meegoda is different as it is mainly a trading venue in Colombo District; the farmer‑linked centres face the issues.

¶ 10 Moreover, proceeding like this creates a perception that it is the Minister’s company or his appointees are being used for another agenda, damaging reputations. The Treasury has drafted a law; I have seen it.

¶ 11 If there is public opposition, do not proceed. The Government rightly reversed the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill after public opposition; similarly, reconsider this move. District and Divisional Secretaries are in place; if there are issues, address them rather than handing to a private company. I brought this motion for these reasons, especially as Keppetipola DEC is vital to Badulla District. Even if we disagree on some proposals, please think twice when adjournment motions are raised. Previously I raised issues of potato and onion farmers; had those decisions been taken then, today farmers would not be protesting. There is strong resistance within the DECs; earlier many traders had only small stalls by the clock tower in Dambulla. Please address these matters.