Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that the Government will set up a mechanism to buy goods directly from the producers.
The Minister was addressing the gathering after reopening the Lanka Sathosa Stores in Anuradhapura on Saturday. The complex was closed during the yahapalana government.
The new strategy will help stabilise prices of goods in the local market, the Minister said.
“Buying goods directly from the manufacturers sans middlemen will be carried out soon,” he said
The Minister said that the Government will also go for direct imports soon to maintain stable prices in the market. He said that massive fraud and corruption had taken place at the Lanka Sathosa during the previous government.
Minister Gunawardene said that the Ministry Secretary and the Chairman of the Institution have already made a complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over these alleged fraud and corruption, which were running into billions.
The Minister hoped that the Defence Secretary will take steps to expedite the investigation into the alleged scams. Minister Gunawardene said that a forensic audit is being conducted to identify what sorts of frauds have taken place at the Lanka Sathosa. He said legal action will be taken against those who are responsible for these frauds on receipt of the forensic audit report.
“The Yahapalana Government devoured the Sathosa and the Lanka Sathosa. Many wholesale depots were closed to nurture friends of the then government,” the Minister said.
