Top Cop who ran 119 leads Lanka Sathosa clean-up

Minister of Industry and Commerce (far right) and retired SSP Premalal Ranagala (left) at the special training session held at SLFI yesterday

In a new move to make Lanka Sathosa a viable entity again, a former Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) has been brought in to commence the clean-up of largest State-owned FMCG network in the country. Also on the cards are Mini Sathosas, specifically to sell essential and controlled price items whose prices change daily.

“Today I am appointing retired SSP Ranagala to ensure Lanka Sathosa discipline among rank and file,” vowed Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday, addressing a special training session of 300 Sathosa area managers and managers held at SLFI joined by Lanka Sathosa Chairman Dr. Rohantha Athukorala and CWE Chairman Rizwan Hameem.

“We have minimised Lanka Sathosa losses in a big way. Sathosa shops do not charge VAT from essential items. These essential items are vital for all families and Lanka Sathosa supermarkets are not speedy enough to give immediate price reductions in essential items or new controlled prices. Therefore express style Mini Sathosa outlets that are highly sensitive to daily market prices can get these essential items to the consumer-hands at latest prices. They need to be set up along bus stations, fuel stations and railways as a start and it now time to set them up,” said Minister Bathiudeen. 

He added: “Computerisation of Lanka Sathosa network has to go ahead and I instruct Sathosa to complete the process in the coming six months. Computerisation clearly cuts down costs and will eliminate pilfering, stealing and mishandling of stocks. Ranagala will personally investigate all corrupt and mishandling activities that are taking place within Sathosa. Area managers and managers need to focus on their tasks without worrying of loss of stocks and pilfering. Ranagala will ensure there will be no such events in future.”

Ranagala previously served in Colombo South, Ampara, Matara, and Badulla. He was also in charge of Police 119 hotline response service.

On 12 July, during a special press conference at the Ministry of Finance joined by Minister Bathiudeen, Minister of Rural Economic Affairs P. Harrison and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, a list of items on ‘controlled price’ were announced. They are sugar, dhal, Mysoor dhal, potatoes, onions, chillies, canned fish, green gram, kidney beans, garlic, Urad dhal, coriander, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, chickpeas, soya, palm oil, dry fish, sprats, Maldive fish and turmeric.