Minister Devananda admonishes Co-Operative heads in Jaffna

By: Nelson S. Edirisinghe, Media Secretary of the EPDP

A discussion, representing a wide cross section of organizations was held at the Ministerial office in Jaffna, headed by Douglas Devananda, Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare, with a view for controlling soaring prices of consumables, eliminating shortages and streamlining distribution. The G.A. Jaffna, Additional Government Agent, Divisional Secretaries, Deputy Commissioner of co-operatives, Director District Planning, Administrative Officers of Multipurpose Co-operative societies, representatives from Consumer Protection Committees, representatives from Peoples’ Committees for Peace, representatives from NGOs Unity and Ministry Officials participated at this discussion.

The Minister, expressing his views in his address to the deliberation stated that he was expressing his free and fair views concerning the present situation in Jaffna where the people of Jaffna have been severely suffering from the problem of food supply quite for sometime and it was the bounden duty of those gathered at the discussion from diverse fields to make every endeavour possible to bring happiness and solace to the suffering masses. The Minister requested the participants to air their views and ideas basing on this backdrop.

“People of the South never get a clear picture of the problems faced by the people of Jaffna, nor a correct assessment of the situation here is conveyed to them, what they get is a twisted picture, a reflection of the views and ideas of news conveyers in the North. The Co-operatives should market the goods retaining a reasonable price margin. Food items unfit for human consumption, shouldn’t be distributed nor conditions be laid down compelling consumers to purchase a particular kind of food. If they possessed any food items unfit for consumption, they should be returned.” the Minister stated.

The Minister stated that as at present 8 ships bring essential food items and other goods to Jaffna peninsula, if these ships were used twice a month, the requirements of Jaffna people could be adequately met, but for this to be not adhered to there needed to be a hidden agenda. The Minister stated “In future all the goods needed by people will be brought down under my guidance according to a list that is now being prepared by the Government Agent Jaffna.

The Minister added that he had been informed that relief items in certain areas had not been met with for the last three months and action needed to be taken to provide with the relief items to those who had not received them.

Minister also said that the Government under no circumstances would thrust upon food items and other goods on people. It is the middlemen who were involved in such illegal activities. The Minister stressed the necessity of removing these people from the food distribution system.

The Minster appealed to all the co-operative societies to contact him whenever they come across any problems in food distribution and requested them to mindful about the weight and quality of food items when purchasing. He promised them that he would explore the possibility of obtaining credit facilities for them in purchases.