Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has alleged that the Dambulla agricultural warehouse complex, which is touted as the ‘first temperature-controlled’ agricultural warehouse complex in Sri Lanka, still remains inactive, despite being inaugurated.
Constructed from 2019 under the ‘Yahapalana’ government, when de Silva served as Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Supplies, the 5,000-MT facility was virtually inaugurated earlier this month during the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister – Narendra Modi.
During an on-site visit yesterday (April 15), Dr. de Silva alleged in a Facebook livestream that the government had misled the public by declaring the warehouse open well before it was fully functional.
In the video, he also pointed out that despite the plaque at the project site saying ‘Temperature controlled Agriculture Warehouse’, it is actually a Temperature and Humidity controlled warehouse.
He also pointed out that warehouse operations cannot be kicked off just like that as it needed the implementation of necessary training for the required good agricultural practices.
He explained that this is not a mere complex where the remaining goods are dumped and the true objective of the project should be understood.
The MP also pointed out that certain sections of the land had been taken over by certain groups and urged the government to look into the matter.
