Govt to import cement

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardena told Parliament yesterday that the Government has decided to import cement at a low rate to prevent the unnecessary price hike as several cement companies have requested to increase the price of cement.

The Minister said tenders have been called to import cement at a low price to control the unnecessary price hike.

"We will take measures to import cement through the State Trading Co-operative Wholesale Company Limited," he said.

The Government will not alow any cement company to increase the price as freight charges have been reduced. Therefore, it would be cheaper to import cement at a low price and supply to the local market at concessionary rates, the Minister said. The Minister said the Government will take action to import essential commodities to provide relief to consumers, if private companies increase prices unfairly.

Essential commodities will be imported through the State Trading Co-operative Wholesale Company Limited and supplied to the local market at a low cost.

The Minister was replying to an oral question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake.