‘Mahinda Chinthana Punarjeevana’ brings in Rs. 400 m monthly to STC

Saturday, 3 January 2015 03:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Inshira Shainaz Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation (STC) which had run at a loss has derived an income of Rs. 400 million by implementing the ‘Mahinda Chinthana Punarjeevana’ program. The main objective of STC is to provide quality goods based on the requirements of the customers at a low cost. Accordingly steps have been taken to provide electrical items and furniture including televisions at a reasonable price on an easy payment scheme, stated STC Chairman Pradeep Gunawardena at a recent press conference. Gunawardena commented that in year 2000, it was decided to close down the State Trading Corporation due to an institutional loss of income. Although after President Mahinda Rajapaksa assigned duties in year 2008, this institute which was nearly closing

down, took steps to revive it. As a result of this, new projects and new creations have been identified to strengthen the state business as Chairman of State Trading Corporation. They have the ability to generate new income by initially introducing the ‘Upahara’ package and ‘Webcourse’ project to the communication sector. A compensation package was offered on a voluntary retirement basis to the employees of the State Trading Corporation when STC was running at a loss but today it has been developed day by day under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government with new innovations. The steps have been taken to provide requirements for the customers with quality at a very reasonable price as the result of the above development. Accordingly computers, photocopy machines and electrical equipment were branded under STC. Air-conditioners were branded under STC General. The State Trading Corporation has been agents of all school equipment and AA photocopy papers since last year. STC gradually entered the open market and steps have been taken to produce school equipment, photocopy machines, keys, electrical equipment, etc. He further stated that Yokohama tyres, computers, gas cookers, televisions and all keys including electrical items are available at a lowest price. In the last year, State Trading Corporation was named as the best institute in the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). They have the ability to provide a good item to the customers and they have no doubt that they can reserve foreign exchange as a result of all these things that were produced under the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ program and the open economic system, he said. There are market showrooms from Dondra point to Point Pedro and showrooms situated in Matara, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Kandy, Jaffna and Nawam Mawatha. The largest showroom of STC is opened at Panchikawatta. Gunawardena further stated that a new mega showroom will open at Narahenpita in the near future. Pic by Shehan Gunasekara