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Foundation laid for Temperature Controlled Cold Storage facility for Perishables in Dambulla
The construction of the first Temperature and Humidity Controlled Warehouse Complex for Perishables in Sri Lanka with a capacity of 5000 metric tons capable of storing the excess harvest of vegetables and fruits was initiated by Minister of Economic Reforms & Public Distribution Dr. Harsha de Silva and the High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka, His Excellency Tharanjith Singh Sandu, today (30) at the adjoining land of Dambulla Economic Centre.
This Agro Cold Storage complex is constructed with a financial grant from the government of India and it is scheduled to be completed within six months. This is done under a concept of the Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Dr Harsha de Silva- "Prabhashwara - A Great Leap Forward for Farmer’s Life". The Cold Storage complex in Dambulla will be comprised of six separated sections of different temperature and humidity levels. Using this facility, the farmers in the area will be able to store their excess harvest at a concessionary price for a much longer period.
Minister of Economic Reforms & Public Distribution, Dr. Harsha De Silva at the inauguration of this ceremony held today, said that;
“During the periods when there is an excess harvest, farmers had to throw the excess harvest for elephants to eat. For a long time, I was searching for an answer to this question. I had an interest in doing something on this since 2002. Together with Dambulla Economic Centre we even initiated a programme called Govignana, to give on-time market information to farmers. I am glad that I have the opportunity to address this issue.”
This year's budget provides a series of tax concessions for investors investing in climate-controlled logistic facilities and the Ministry plans to give opportunities for investors to construct a vegetable and fruit processing complex around the Dambullacold storage complex.
This program is being implemented by the Food Commissioner's Department of the Ministry of Economic Reforms and Public Distributions, and the Food Commissioner Mrs.J.Krishnamoorthy plays the key role in making this program a success.
This can be mentioned as the first step towards an innovative diversion of farmer's surplus stored in the cold storage facilities, to local and foreign markets on time. Followed by this project, there will be similar agro-storage complexes constructed in Keppetipola covering the Central Province, Jaffna covering the Northern Province, Embilipitiya covering the Southern Provinces under the "Prabhashwara" Program.
A cabinet paper will be presented by President Maithripala Sirisena today (February 12) to provide subsidies to small and medium scale rice mill owners. He made this statement during a discussion with the small and medium scale rice mill owners held last evening (February 12) at “Ape Gama” in Baththaramulla.
Dr. Harsha De Silva, MP assumes duties as non-cabinet minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Ministry.
Dr. Harsha De Silva assumed duties as the non-cabinet minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution today, at the ministry located in the World Trade Center, Colombo. During the ceremony, Min. (Dr.) Harsha De Silva spoke of the different views an opinions – “Some say that we should not go forward with the Singapore Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement and focus more on agriculture development. Some say we should focus more on the service sector. Some say exports must be restricted to certain countries, and some say we must cooperate with other countries”. The minister stated that he is ready to pay attention to criticism, “so we could focus more on developing efficiency”.
He stated that if Sri Lanka is facing a delay while other countries are developing faster, “we must implement the necessary reforms”.
1990 Suwaseriya Launched in Sabaragamuwa Province
The 1990 Emergency Ambulance Service, which was expanded island-wide recently under Indian grant assistance, has been making good progress. The service has been available in Northern Province since July; in Uva since August; in North Central Province since September; in North Western Province since October; and Central Province since November 2018. The service is now available in seven provinces. The service will also be available in the other two provinces (Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Province) soon.
At the request of Government of Sri Lanka, the service was initially launched in 2016 in Western and Southern Provinces of Sri Lanka under an Indian grant of $ 7.56 million. This grant included the purchase of 88 ambulances, operational expenditure of the service for one year and setting up an emergency response center.
Noting the success of the service, a request was made by Government of Sri Lanka to Government of India to expand the service island-wide in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, Prime Minister of India announced during his visit to Sri Lanka in May 2017, that Emergency Ambulance Service would be expanded island-wide in Sri Lanka under an Indian grant. This promise has been fulfilled and the service is currently being expanded all across Sri Lanka with an additional grant of $ 15.02 million, covering the cost of 209 ambulances, training costs and operational expenditure for one year in all seven Provinces.
The service, can be obtained by simply dialling toll free number ‘1990’ on any network in Sri Lanka. It is the largest Indian grant project in Sri Lanka after the Indian Housing Project.
India remains committed to further strengthening the bilateral partnership with Sri Lanka based on Sri Lanka’s own choices and priorities.