Essential food items:

Price reductions, a boon to consumers

The prices of essential items such as rice, sugar, dhal, gram, canned fish, big onion, potatoes dried chillies and garlic have been reduced by the Government.

The benefit received by consumers due to the essential items price reduction was like an increase in the monthly salary or a reduction of the cost-of-living, an additional income of Rs. 2,500 said Trade, Commerce, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

The prices of goods could also be further reduced in the coming months since more goods would come to the market from the North and East. Most of the goods imported from India during the past few decades were produced in Jaffna before the conflict. Jaffna farmers could now produce onions, potatoes, vegetables and fruits, he said.

He said that consumers can celebrate the forthcoming Christmas and New Year seasons. Several decisions such as price reductions of essential food items will be taken by the Government for the benefit of consumers, he said.

All essential food items are available at reduced prices at Laksathosa and Coop Cities managed by Cooperative Societies which have taken steps to implement the Government’s price reduction.

Sathosa Chairman Sagara Kariyawasam and Laksathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando said that their organisations have adequate essential food stocks. Last week’s price reductions were really remarkable, they said.

LSAW