The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana - Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security

¶ 01 On behalf of the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, I reply as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) The last fair was held from 13 to 17 December 2023 at the Ja-Ela Urban Council Grounds. It was conducted by the Mahapola Educational and Trade Fair Secretariat with the approval of the 97th Board of Trustees. As per the financial statements of the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund, Rs. 93.21 million was disbursed; Rs. 52.42 million has been recovered, leaving Rs. 40.79 million outstanding as per the accounts. (A copy of the account is annexed.) The annexure is placed in the Library.

¶ 03 Further, for a trade fair scheduled in Anuradhapura after the Ja-Ela fair, an advance of Rs. 6 million was paid in 2024, and Rs. 2.4 million was paid as hire charges for a vehicle hired for the Mahapola Trade Fair Secretariat from January to August 2024. The Anuradhapura fair was not held.

¶ 04 (ii) As per the financial statements of the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund (values in Rs. million): - Property, plant and equipment: 0.71 - Investment properties: - Leasehold land (Malabe – leased at 51.11): 12.46 - Leasehold land (Millāwa): 340.20 - Buildings (Malabe – leased to SLIIT at 484): 751.64 Subtotal investment properties: 1,104.30 - Investment in managed company: National Wealth Ltd.: 985.50 - Other investments: Development Lotteries Board capital investment: 2.20

¶ 05 Total assets of the Fund, as per the statements: 2,092.71

¶ 06 (b) Does not arise.