Dambulla Economic Centre targeted by organized gang of vegetable thieves

An organized gang is at work stealing stocks of vegetables from the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre (DDEC), targeting farmers, businessmen and traders who are coming to buy and sell vegetables there. 

Traders say members of the gang pose as traders and even farmers and have been stealing large stocks of vegetables from the centre. They are targeting the centre at a time when the prices of many vegetables have increased significantly. 

Given this situation, even the theft of one sack of vegetables is a serious loss, they pointed out. 

Trades Association representatives at the centre said they have never before seen such large scale thefts being carried out at the centre by an organized gang, with complaints coming in on a daily basis. While a police post is functioning at the centre, officers there have found it difficult to look into the thefts since they are busy controling the large number of vehicles that entre the centre and also in ensuring that COVID-19 health guidelines are followed at the premises. 

Since such a large number of traders, businessmen and farmers flock to the centre on a daily basis, it has become difficult to identify members of the gang. Traders' representatives have also complained about the issue to the Dambulla Special Task Force camp. 

Text and Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa