Government aims to create healthy competition - Bandula

The government’s main objective in establishing The State Trading (Co-operative) Wholesale Company Ltd (STCWC) is to create a healthy competition and provide essential consumer goods to public said the Minister of Trade, Marketing development, Co-operative and Consumer Services Bandula Gunawardane at a press conference at his ministry, on Monday (18).

The State Trading (Co-operative) Wholesale Company Ltd will commence operations before the Sinhala and Hindu New Year he said.

The ministry is working in collaboration with the private sector for an effective start. People who are depending on Samurdhi and other poor communities are the main consumers that the company would like to give a helping hand to overcome their cost of living problems, he said.

The minister also added that STCWC will also help to eliminate shortages in the future and through this the traders will not be able to have a monopoly, hide stocks and increase prices.

Through the "Nagenahira Navodaya" programme the ministry has already opened nine Super markets in the Eastern Province to provide the consumer with a package of essential goods at reasonable prices he added.

The Secretary of the ministry R.M.K.Ratnayake and the State Trading (Co-operative) Wholesale Company’s board of directors were also present.