Govt to import wheat flour

Irangika Range

COLOMBO: The Government has decided to import wheat flour with immediate effect to provide relief to consumers. This is in response to the increased flour prices by Prima Ltd without prior approval from the Government.

"We expect to import 15,000 mt of wheat flour monthly through Sathosa and it will reduce the prices in the open market," Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardana told the media yesterday.

The decision was taken by the Cost of Living Committee met yesterday under the patronage of Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka.

The committee also given approval for the import of wheat flour under tax exemptions.

This decision was taken to break the monopoly of Prima by creating competition and reducing the prices of wheat flour in the open market.

"Under section 18 of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act wheat flour has been gazetted as an essential commodity.

'However without considering about the legal procedure, Prima Ltd has increased the price of wheat flour and the Government has filed a case against Prima for violating the CAA Act,' the Minister said.