Festive season: Govt thwarts move to increase food prices

By L. S. A. Wedaarachchi

[email protected]

The government has thwarted a move by anti government elements to create a scarcity of essential food items to reap unconscionable profits during the festive season, said Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

The Trade Minister who was in Myanmar last week with the Secretary to the Ministry Dr. R. M. Ratnayaka and Dr. F. D. Samaratunga, the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury held a series of discussions with the Myanmar Trade Minister and high ranking officials on food supplies to Sri Lanka.

One-hundred-thousand tonnes of rice will be sent to Sri Lanka by the Myanmar government shortly, under the agreement entered into with the Myanmar government.

The Trade Minister said Myanmar rice, which is similar to “Samba,” will be sold at Rs. 55 per kilo through the Laksathosa, Coop City and Cooperative Marketing network. He said that the government decided to reduce the tax on vegetable oil with immediate effect and that will help reduce the price of coconuts and coconut oil.

The prices of potatoes, big onions, garlic and dried chillies are lower compared to last year, he said.

The Trade Minister said that three Economic Centres mainly wholesale and retail sales of vegetables and local agricultural products will be set up immediately in Narahenpita, Ratmalana and Kesbewa.

The Veyangoda Economic Centre which was set up recently helped to bring down the prices of essential food and vegetables in the area, he said.

Minister Gunawardena who initiated the Economic Centre program, set up the Dambulla, Tambuttegama, Nuwara Eliya, Norochcholai and Embilipitiya production economic centres and Meegoda, Welisara and Veyangoda wholesale and retail economic centres.