Heavy rains have caused drains to overflow at the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre, putting large quantities of vegetables at risk of contamination and spoilage, farmers and traders have warned.
They say that water pooling in and around the market premises has rendered harvested vegetables unhygienic and unfit for sale, threatening both livelihoods and public health.
Many claim no compensation has been offered for the loss of produce grown over months of hard labour.
Blocked drainage systems inside the centre are being blamed for the damage, with continuous rainfall over recent days exacerbating the issue.
Traders say rainwater often accumulates at night, soaking fruits and vegetables left on the floor by early morning.
“This kind of problem never existed in the past,” one trader said, adding that despite repeated complaints to the management, no meaningful action has been taken.
They also questioned why basic maintenance is being neglected despite the collection of substantial monthly rental fees from stallholders.
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