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Dambulla Economic Centre reopens under strict health protocols
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Scenes at the Dambulla Economic Centre. Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
The Dambulla Economic Centre was re-opened for vegetable distribution this week with strict health guidelines in place.
Chairman, Dambulla Traders Association, Channa Arawwala told the Sunday Times that the government decided to re-open the market to prevent buyers and sellers from engaging in business, with no safety precautions, by the road side nearby.
He added that activities resumed in the market following advice from the health authority.
“We use masks, and we have a disinfection chamber in use, so operations at the economic centre are safe,” he said.
Mr Arawwala also pointed out that they had decided to restrict the number of people coming to the economic centre from next week.
“Only one farmer, and the driver of the lorry he hired, are allowed inside the economic centre at one time. Likewise, only one merchant and his driver would be allowed into economic centre to buy the needed vegetables.
| Economic Centre donates vegtables, Army distributes among needy | |
| The Sri Lanka Army distributed 168 tons of vegetables among people in the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam Districts, Army Media Spokesman, Brigadier Chandana Wickramasinghe said. He said that the army dispatched 43 army trucks and lorries to the Dambulla Economic Centre on Monday April 20, 2020. Brigadier Wickramasinghe said they transported pumpkin, cucumber, capsicum, beetroot, kekiri and brinjal worth over Rs 12 million. He said that after the vegetables were brought to Colombo, around 100-150 troops of the Security Headquarters – West packed the vegetables into 15,000 bags each weighing around 6kg. These vegetables were distributed to the families in need of assistance. He explained that the army is thankful to the Dambulla Traders Association for donating the vegetables. He added the programme was carried out under the instructions of Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva. Dambulla Traders Association Chairman, Channa Arawwala said they provided the vegetables free of charge to the army to help the under-privileged. |