Politically-backed traders at the Dambulla Economic Centre are buying increasing supplies of vegetables from the farmers of the liberated Northern Province forcing growers elsewhere to throw their produce to the animals as prices are artificially manipulated, a Sunday Times investigation has revealed.

Cuba is to send some experts to Sri Lanka for discussions and relevant studies with authorities after which a decision would be taken over the type of ‘bug’ or bacteria needed against the dengue menace which has caused the deaths of 163 and affected nearly 15,000 others.