104 food contractors staged a protest in Vavuniya claiming a sum of around Rs. 500 Million due for provision of food to the Tamil IDPs...!!! Shame.!!!

Food contractors to IDPs protest at Vavuniya

By : Romesh Madhushanka

104 food contractors staged a protest in front of District Secretary’s Office in Vavuniya claiming a sum of around Rs. 500 Million due for provision of food to IDPs who fled captivity from the LTTE had not been paid to them.

The contractors claimed they had supplied food to civilians who escaped from LTTE control and were provided with accommodation at IDP camps.

The protestors claimed that they had been providing food from February 2009 on an undertaking given by the District Secretary that they would receive payment at the rate of Rs.130/- per person and that they received payments up to 18th March at that rate. There after, no food contractor had received payment. They added they had subsequently informed the rate had been reduced to Rs.100/- per person.

As it stands the food suppliers claim they have to collect around Rs.05 million each from the District Secretary and the total is around Rs.500/- million. During the protest they insisted they were not willing to accept the new rate of Rs.100/- per person and demanded the original rate of Rs.130/- be maintained.

They further, stated in providing the service, they were compelled to borrow from banks as well as from other money lending organisations who charged a very high rate of interest while the quality requirements compel them to maintain the minimum weights linked to the rate. Eg breakfast at Rs.35/- with minimum weight as 250 grammes, Lunch at Rs.60/- with minimum weight of 650 grammes and dinner at Rs.35/- with minimum weight of 300 grammes. Actg. District Secretary Vavuniya, Thirugnanana Sambandan said that the cash received was Rs. 150/- million and he was not in a position to comment on the reduction of rates.

The food contractors said they were informed that reduction in payment had been effected according to a cabinet Paper. They demanded the concerned authorities be made aware of the ground realities and a solution to the problem found.

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