Essential food items:

Govt to end private sector monopoly

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The Co-operatives and Internal Trade Ministry will import essential food items within the next few days following the Government’s decision to create a competitive environment which would result in minimising the monopoly of the private sector.

Only the private sector is involved in importing commodities and there is no Government intervention in the import market. The prices of commodities are decided by the private sector while maintaining a monopoly. According to a Co-operatives and Internal Trade Ministry source the Ministry is analysing various facts related to importing essential commodities. Under this, the Ministry will decide the types of commodity which have to be imported, the amount and from which country the commodities have to be imported.

After this the Ministry will import commodities that will be sold at Laksathosa retail outlets and Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) throughout the country. The Ministry is eying to become the market leader, the sources said.

Meanwhile, a joint program has been launched by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry and Co-operative and Internal Trade Ministry to bring down the high price of fish. Under this program the fish which are purchased by the Fisheries Corporation will be sold at CWE branches and Laksathosa outlets. This will also create a competitive environment in the fish market.

This will ensure a fair price for fish benefiting consumers, the sources added.