Marketing complex to boost pineapple trade

The Ministry of Economic Development has decided to provide pineapple vendors at Belummahara, Gampaha on the Colombo to Kandy Road, with a fully equipped marketing complex. This will replace the existing pineapple stalls scattered all over Belummahara.

At present the stalls are located within a distance of two kilometres from the Belummahara junction. Some of the stalls are owned by vendors while several others have been rented. The rest are illegal constructions.

The new marketing complex to be constructed under Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s supervision will prevent the Gampaha pineapple vendors being adversely affected by the widening of the highway. It will also help to generate a better income for them and raise their living standards.

The decision to build the complex follows representations they made to President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he visited Belummahara on the way to attend a function at Gampaha. The vendors drew the President’s attention to the problems they would face due to the road widening.  On his advice Minister Basil Rajapaksa held a discussion at Oruthota, Gampaha recently with Deputy Minister Pandu Bandaranayake, Liya Abimana President Attorney Pushpa Rajapaksa and Gampaha District Secretary JJ Ratnasiri. Pineapple vendors too were represented at this discussion.

A team comprising the Divisional Secretary, ‘grama niladharis’, ‘Pradeshiya Sabha’ Chairman, people’s representatives and pineapple vendors has been appointed to monitor the building of the marketing complex. Although pineapple which has its origins in South America was introduced to Sri Lanka via India centuries ago, the island also has its own native species of pineapple know as wal (wild) annasi. There are hundreds of varieties of pineapple round the world.

Today this country boasts of three varieties of the fruit the stout, red striped leaf and the sweet Mauritius (Murusi Annasi) which is the most prolific.

At least 90% of Sri Lankan pineapples are grown in the coconut lands of Kurunegala, Gampaha, Puttalam and Colombo Districts where pineapple is the most common intercrop. Sri Lanka produces about 35,000 metric tons of pineapple annually and exports the fruit to the USA and the Maldives.