National Steering Committee appointed to oversee economic centres

Cabinet approval given to distribute 400 000 plastic crates to traders

Cabinet approval has been given for two measures to streamline vegetable trade with the government appointing a national steering committee to restructure economic centres and distribute State funded plastic containers.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday told the Cabinet briefing that the government regulations to make plastic containers mandatory when transporting vegetables was hurriedly done and there have been many complaints from traders. Therefore the government had decided to distribute 400, 000 crates to minimise the cost incurred by transporters.

“This decision was made due to a Cabinet paper submitted by Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando. While we admit that the decision to use plastic crates was implemented within a short period of time its discussion has been happening for about seven years. This was done to minimise the post-harvest wastage in our country which is about 30% of the produce. This high amount is all the more hard to bear when we consider the high prices of vegetables,” he said.

A second Cabinet paper received approval to appoint a National Steering Committee to restructure the Dedicated Economic Centres. Accordingly, the centres in Narahenpita, Dambulla, Meegoda, Veyangoda, Ratmalana and Piliyandala will come under the new Steering Committee.

“There are already Steering Committees under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the subject ministry for all economic centres. The National Steering Committee will consist of a representative from each of these committees and also representatives from the ministries of agriculture, finance and planning.” (UJ)     

19 local council elections suspended

Court of Appeal yesterday delivered interim injunctions suspending the holding of local government elections for 19 local councils. The elections were scheduled for 17 March.

The interim injunctions were imposed following hearing of the petitions regarding the rejection of the nominations to these local councils.

Ruling party United People’s Freedom alliance (UPFA) has filed the petitions related to 16 local councils in Jaffna District and three in Kilinochchi District.

The Retaining Officers of these districts due to various technical reasons had rejected the UPFA nominations for the local government institutes.

The Court of Appeal summoned the Elections Commissioner and the relevant officials of Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts to appear before the court on 1 March. (www.colombopage.com)