No price increase in essential items during festive season -
minister
Irangika RANGE
There is no room for an increase in the price of essential items
during the festive season, Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister
Johnston Fernando assured yesterday.
Minister Johnston Fernando |
"All measures are in place to ensure that there will be no shortage
of essential food items in the market during the festive season," he
said.
The minister said that ample stocks of essential items have been
stored in warehouses.
"This move will avert any essential item shortage during the festive
season. Sufficient stocks of dhal, white sugar, canned fish, wheat
flour, sprats and chillies have been imported to cater to the increasing
demand during the festive season," the minister said.
"According to the long term and strong market strategy followed by
the government, the prices of essential commodities in the local market
are stable enabling consumers to make their purchases at concessionary
rates. This scheme will further help to keep the prices of essential
imported food items low," he added.
He said adequate stocks have been released by both government and
private sector institutions to the market to avert artificial shortages
of essential commodities.
He said that a buffer stock of essential items is always maintained
by the government to avert a shortage and unnecessary price hike during
the festive season.
"Co-operatives, Laksathosa, Sathosa branches and dedicated economic
centres continue providing essential items to consumers at concessionary
rates," the minister said.
"We have imported several items which are not produced in Sri Lanka
to fulfill the increasing local demand during the festive season," the
minister said. |