Government moves to regulate and modernize Specialized Economic Centres

 

The inaugural meeting of the Board of Directors of National Agri Market Services Ltd, the newly established state-owned company tasked with managing Sri Lanka’s specialized economic centers, was held yesterday (24) at the Ministry of Trade.

The meeting was chaired by Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe.

National Agri Market Services Ltd, which is fully owned by the General Treasury, was created to formalize and streamline the operations of economic centers that have thus far functioned informally.

During the meeting, Secretary to the Ministry K. A. Wimalenthirarajah and other officials briefed the Board on the company’s upcoming activities and discussed key challenges identified within the sector.

In recent months, discussions were also held with representatives of economic centers, management trusts, and trade associations to communicate the objectives of the new entity.

The initiative aims to unify and modernize the management of economic centers across the country.

The head office will be located in Narahenpita, with a primary focus on creating an efficient supply chain from farmers to consumers.

This includes introducing improved packaging and transport systems to reduce post-harvest losses, ensure fair pricing, and deliver fresh, high-quality agricultural produce to the public.

National Agri Market Services Ltd will also play a key role in property management, vendor agreements, price regulation, and ensuring transparency and accountability in decision-making across all economic centers.