(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –The allegation made by some opposition politicians on media that the ‘Sena’ caterpillar had come to Sri Lanka due to the decision taken by the cabinet to import maize necessary for the production of Thriposha is completely baseless, the Chairperson of Sri Lanka Thriposha Ltd. Mrs. BGS Gunathilaka said.
According to the Chairperson, for Thriposha production, the Sri Lanka Thriposha Ltd. annually requires 12,000 metric tons of maize and 6000 metric tons of soy beans.
This requirement is met through the Cabinet Procurement Committee, and a call for a national competitive bid was published in newspapers on 23 May 2018 for this purpose.
The two bids received were submitted to the Technical Evaluation Committee and submitted to the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee.
After considering the recommendations of the Technical Evaluation Committee, the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) awarded to tender to the lowest bidder, a local company.
The basis for awarding the tender to a local maize producing company was to uplift the economy of the local maize farmers.
When awarding the tender, measures have been taken to check the list of farmers and farmer organizations in order to ensure only local producers can supply the maize for the production of Thriposha meal.
The cabinet decision has not allowed any room for import of maize from foreign sources, the Chairperson stressed.
Thriposha is produced with the locally grown maize, rice, soya and milk and it is distributed free of charge to eligible women and children.
