Drop in food prices in Jaffna expected with A9 opening

Chaminda PERERA

The Government anticipates a decrease in the prices of essential commodities in the Jaffna Peninsula with the opening of A9 road for the transport of essential commodities to the public and the Security Forces after a lapse of 24 years.

Lak Sathosa has started sending essential food commodities to Jaffna over land and the prices of essential commodities will see a drastic drop within two weeks in the North, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

The produce farmers in the North will flow into the markets in the South which will result in a drop in the prices of essential commodities in the South, the Minister said. .

He said the Government has shipped essential food items to civilians in the uncleared areas on several occasions despite the LTTE's shell attack on the ship that carried tons of essential food items to them. According to the Minister, the unloading of food items resumed a few hours after the attack.