Cement shortage temporary - Minister

The current cement shortage will ease and there will be ample stocks available in the market at existing prices by next week, assured Construction and Engineering Services Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.

The Minister gave this assurance at a discussion convened at the Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Ministry yesterday to discuss the current cement shortage and take suitable measures to overcome it.

The meeting presided by Minister Bandula Gunawardena was attended by Minister Senaratne, Trade Ministry Secretary R. M. K. Ratnayake and cement manufacturers and Importers.

It was revealed at this meeting that local production of cement amounted to only 30 percent of the country’s total demand and the balance 70 percent was imported. a press release by the Construction and Engineering Services Ministry said.

Although the Consumer Affairs Authority has fixed the maximum price of cement at Rs. 692 per bag, producers and importers were maintaining the price at Rs. 645 to Rs. 670 per bag.

The two ministers requested producers and importers to prevent any scarcity of cement in the market and both parties agreed to ensure ample stocks in the market by next week.

Chairman Holcim Cement Manilal Fernando said the current shortage was only temporary.

There was no reason for there to be any shortage of cement and they would request consumers not to panic as the market would return to normal with ample supplies by next week.

Consumers need not pay anything extra for the cement they purchase as prices would remain at the existing level. Minister Rajitha Senaratne said he convened the meeting because construction sector organisations informed him about a shortage of cement.

He also took the matter up in the Cabinet and on the instructions of the President they took steps to solve the problem by convening a meeting of cement producers and importers.