200 more Lak Sathosa outlets to be opened island wide

By Shezna Shums

The Ministry of Internal Trade and Co operation has received Cabinet approval for 200 more Lak Sathosa outlets to be opened island wide this coming year.

These outlets are to be opened in the rural areas around the island to provide competitive prices of foods and other rations for the public.

Under the purview of the Ministry of Internal Trade and Co operatives there are Lak Sathosa outlets, Co-op city, mini co-op city and Consumer Cooperative Societies Federation of Sri Lanka (COOFED).

Currently there are 12 COOPED branches around the island and the Ministry is planning on increasing them to 20 by the end of August.

The Ministry is hoping that with the establishments of these new outlets it will provide relief to the consumers as well as farmers in the governments plans on being a self sufficient and food secured country.

Farmers will also benefit from such outlets as they will have outlets to sell their produce as well as receive fair prices.

This move was made to introduce more competitions between the private traders and the government run outlets for competitive prices regarding food.

Co-op city, mini co-op city and COOPFED branches countrywide have strengthened the farmer community who now receive fair prices for their products from these centres the Ministry has highlighted.