Over two million visit Divi Neguma Avurudu fairs

The number of people making purchases at the Divi Neguma Avurudu fairs now being held in 407 main towns countrywide under the guidance of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, is expected to reach three million. The ministry has organised the fairs with the assistance of 19 state organisations including the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority, Agrarian Development Department, Lak Sathosa, Second Community Development & Livelihood Improvement Project and the Cooperative Development Department. 

The fairs which began on 5 April will continue till 12 April. Textiles, fresh vegetables, fruits, sweets, rice, coconuts, powdered milk, dry rations, spices, plants, ornamental fish, products of small industrialists and meat products are among the many items which will be available under one roof at all these places.  Twelve thousand rural producers have contributed to the success of the fairs.

In the Colombo District a Divi Neguma fair has been organised at Battaramulla near the Diyawanna Oya with the participation of businessmen and producers from the North among many others. This fair comprises of 120 stalls where food and other products from various parts of the country are available.

Young people from the North selling their products at this fair have visited Colombo for the first time after decades of war. Their products include rice flour, handloom textiles, kotta kelengu, palmyrah products, travelling bags, undu flour and dry fish.  The Divi Neguma fairs held island-wide include ones at the Anuradhapura Municipal Council playground, Puttalam Muncipal Council hall, Polonnarwa Thopawewa School playground, Wellayawa Pradeshiya Sabha ground, Monaragala Mahanama Vidyala playground, Vavuniya Gamini Maha Vidyalaya playground, Kilinochchi Pradeshiya Sabha market building, Mannar A.L. Azar Maha Vidyalaya, Jaffna Parithanarachchi Amman temple, Ampara Municipal Council Hall, Badulla Wills Park Ground, Ratnapura Seewali School ground as well as the Hambantota and Tisamaharama playgrounds.