Isolation and Economy - Dambulla manifest the dilemma as farmers take to the roads to sell their produce

Isolation and Economy - Dambulla manifest the dilemma as farmers take to the roads to sell their produce

The All Ceylon Farmers' Federation stated that despite the closure of the Dambulla Economic Center, the spread of the coronavirus cannot be prevented due to the daily arrival of farmers with their stocks of vegetables.

Speaking at a media briefing held in Dambulla yesterday (02) its national organizer Namal Karunaratne stated that the vegetable farmers and the consumers have been exploited by an intermediary group.

The health department decided to isolate the Dambulla Economic Center from the 26th due to the spread of the coronavirus.

However, farmers brought their produce to Dambulla in the last few days hoping to sell the harvest.

Hiru News continued to report that the farmers were in a difficult situation as they could not sell their vegetables.

Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated that facilities have been provided for farmers to go to other economic centers to sell their vegetable products.

However, farmers did not go to the other economic centers and decided to sell their produce by the roadside in Anuradhapura and Matale.

Meanwhile, the Dambulla Economic Center Management Trust rejectsed the recent statement made by Central Province Governor Lalith U Gamage that the employees of the Dambulla Economic Center  are evading Coronavirus testing.

Speaking at a media briefing in Kandy, the Governor said that there are about 500 employees at the Dambulla Economic Center and only 30 of them have undergone tests.

However, the manager of the Dambulla Economic Center Krishti Wijeratne stated that many people working at the Dambulla Economic Center have already completed their tests.