President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said that in a market as small as Sri Lanka’s, the prices of goods and services cannot be expected to be regulated through market competition alone.
The government needs a strong price regulation mechanism, he said, and should strengthen Lanka Sathosa and the co-operative movement so they can operate as key players in the market. The remarks were reported by the President’s Media Division, according to Ada Derana.
The President spoke on Friday at a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat that reviewed progress on projects funded under the 2026 Budget allocations for the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development, and considered the ministry’s proposals for the 2027 Budget.
Programmes reviewed
The meeting assessed the performance of programmes run by 16 departments, self-financing institutions and Treasury-funded bodies under the ministry, with a focus on food security and consumer protection.
Officials said 45 mechanical dryers are being imported under a concessionary scheme to help farmers dry paddy and other grains. They will go to 45 institutions selected from 65 applicants.
Progress was also reviewed on a project to establish nine wholesale distribution centres, one for each province. Construction of the centres at Kurunegala and Matara has been completed.
The President examined a Rs. 1 billion programme to set up rural rice processing centres, along with plans for a potato purchasing centre in Nuwara Eliya and a grain-legume processing centre in Monaragala. He called for new programmes to support big onion and maize farmers, Daily Mirror reported.
Separately, 34 new Production Co-operative Societies have been registered under a Department of Co-operative Development scheme intended to draw more young people into the sector. The meeting also reviewed Food Commissioner’s Department programmes, including new warehouse complexes and the installation of solar power systems.
