MOVES TO OPEN ON POYA DAYS BACKFIRES WITH LOW TURNOVER

Workers say ill-advised; Trader Assn. says success and will improve over time; Farmers say they never asked

The attempt to open Dambulla Economic Trade Centre on Poya Days (Full Moon) ended up in failure yesterday. The Dambulla Economic Trade Centre’s Trader Association had decided to open the economic centre on every Full Moon day from the Binara full moon day yesterday and they had even given publicity to it.

The traders had also put up posters to create awareness among the farmers and the business community.

However, the business community said that the steps taken by the Trader Association were a failure and that the majority of business establishments in the Economic Centre had put up shutters as usual on Poya Days and the business activities had declined due to the poor turn up of farmers and the businessmen.

Meanwhile, the farmers who had brought large stocks of vegetables in response to the Trader Association’s Decision were facing hardship for want of buyers.

The business community and the employees of the Economic Centre were of opinion that the Trader Association had taken an ill-advised decision to open the Economic Centre on a Poya Day.

They said that they had been deprived of their right to attend religious activities on the Poya Day.

President of the Trader Association Channa Erawwala said the decision was taken in the interest of the farmers and that the opening of the Economic Centre on Poya Days was in the interest of the farmers.

However, he said it was a success. He said the situation would improve in the next Poya Day.

However, the farmers said they never made a request to open the Economic Centre on a Poya Day.

President of the Association said the decision was taken in the interest of the farmers and that the opening on Poya Days was in the interest of the farmers