The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe — Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer is as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) 18.

¶ 03 (ii) Locations: - Narahenpita — No. 44, Kirimandala Mawatha, Colombo 05 - Piliyandala — Bokundara - Meegoda — Padukka Road, Meegoda - Ratmalana — S. Weerasena de Silva Mawatha, Ratmalana - Welisara — Welisara - Dambulla — Dambulla - Veyangoda — Veyangoda - Thambuttegama — Thambuttegama - Embilipitiya — New Town, Embilipitiya - Nuwara Eliya — Udupussellawa Road, Nuwara Eliya - Keppetipola — Nuwara Eliya Road, Keppetipola - Uva Paranagama/Unaawinna (reference to “Unawinna”) - Kurunduwatta (local centre) - Ampara — Ampara - Jaffna — Madduvil North, Chavakachcheri - Kilinochchi — Kilinochchi - Vavuniya — Madawachchiakulam, Vavuniya - Batticaloa — Kaludawala, Batticaloa

¶ 04 (iii) Purposes: - Provide marketing facilities to producers in rural areas and establish an islandwide distribution network enabling consumers to obtain goods and food items at affordable prices and with ease. - Improve the quality of agricultural and other products produced regionally. - Promote fair trade by supporting efficient and competitive market mechanization, minimizing the influence of intermediaries. - Facilitate countrywide distribution of regionally specialized products. - Prevent price hikes by managing shortages and surpluses. - Introduce measures to reduce transport costs and post-harvest losses of small and medium producers.

¶ 05 (iv) Existing shortcomings and weaknesses have been identified. It is recognized as suitable to establish an institutional framework with commercial efficiency, good governance and accountability to rectify weaknesses and regularize operations. Accordingly, a Cabinet Memorandum has been submitted on the management and regularization of Economic Centres, and approval has been received. Steps are being taken to implement the approved measures.

¶ 06 (b) Not applicable.