May 15, Colombo: Minister of Trade Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said the Pettah Wholesale Center in Colombo will be open for wholesale trade from tomorrow.

The Minister made this announcement while participating in an inspection tour of the Pettah Wholesale Center Saturday (15).

After inspecting the situation in the Pettah Wholesale Market today, the Minister had a discussion with the President, Secretary and other officials of the Pettah Wholesale Market on the information received that there is a shortage of wholesale traders in the Pettah Wholesale Market due to travel restrictions imposed island wide.

The Pettah Wholesale Market trade association informed the Minister that they have the required stocks to issue the goods without any shortage as the imported goods are duly issued by the Sri Lanka Customs to the wholesale suppliers and the local products are received at the Pettah Wholesale Exchange without any hindrance.

Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Police and the District Secretaries were instructed to issue permits for wholesale buyers from all over the island to enter the Pettah Wholesale Market.

As per the decision taken at this meeting, the Minister instructed the Pettah Wholesale Traders Association to keep the Pettah Wholesale market open only for wholesale trade from tomorrow (16) morning.

The Minister emphasized that the people involved in all activities from issuance to loading should issue stocks of goods in compliance with all healthcare procedures.

State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Senior DIG Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon, Colombo District Secretary Pradeep Yasaratne, Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority, Chairman of the Pettah Wholesale Traders Association and Secretary were also present at the occasion.