Colombo, June 7 – In a blunt admission that may surprise few familiar with the state of Sri Lanka’s public markets, Trade and Food Security Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe told Parliament yesterday that the country’s economic centres have been a complete failure, falling far short of the objectives they were originally set up to achieve.
“There are 14 active economic centres in the country, but each operates under a different system. None are fulfilling the purpose for which they were established,” the Minister declared, responding to a question raised by MP Hesha Withanage.
Initially envisioned as central market hubs designed to ensure price stability for essential food items and balance supply and demand especially in the perishable fruits and vegetable sectors the centres were meant to be a win-win for both consumers and producers. But according to Minister Samarasinghe, the reality has been a logistical and financial nightmare.
One of the biggest failures, he noted, is the time it takes to move produce. “Transporting goods from Dambulla or Thambuttegama to Narahenpita can take up to 48 hours,” he said, pointing to the outdated logistics system and the lack of cold storage infrastructure that leads to food waste and price spikes.
Adding to the grim picture, the Minister revealed that the government has poured Rs. 1,400 million into constructing these centres with no financial return to show for it.
In a bid to modernise at least part of the broken system, the government is proposing a Cabinet-approved reform plan, which includes restructuring the management models currently in place.
One of the immediate fixes includes installing digital display screens at major centres like Narahenpita and Meegoda, which will show real-time pricing data from agricultural hubs like Dambulla and Thambuttegama. This, the Minister hopes, will bring transparency to the market and allow traders and buyers to make better-informed decisions.
Despite the government’s investment and the critical role these centres were meant to play in food security, Minister Samarasinghe’s comments underscore what many in the agriculture and retail sectors have long known: Sri Lanka’s economic centres have become outdated, mismanaged relics ill-equipped to serve the modern food economy.
