The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, I provide the answer.

¶ 02 (a) (i) The Ministry does not have data on all economic centres functioning in Sri Lanka; however, the number of designated economic centres under the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development is 18.

¶ 03 (ii) Of the economic centres under the Ministry, the number of designated economic centres that are operational is 15: Veyangoda, Welisara, Narahenpita, Ratmalana, Meegoda, Piliyandala, Thambuththegama, Dambulla, Keppetipola, Nuwara Eliya, Embilipitiya, Kandahandiya, Kurunduwatta, Ampara, and Chavakachcheri. The Vavuniya Special Economic Centre was opened by us on the 9th.

¶ 04 Additionally, the number of economic centres not in operation is 3: Jaffna, Batticaloa and Kilinochchi.

¶ 05 (iii) According to Cabinet Decision No. AMP/05/2119/027/0032 dated 2006.01.16 under which these were established via a handover agreement, among the 18 designated economic centres currently under the purview of this Ministry there is no economic centre named Medawachchiya Economic Centre.

¶ 06 (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) Not applicable in view of (iii).

¶ 07 (b) Not applicable.