Controlled price on infant milk powder to be imposed

Irangika RANGE

The government has decided to impose a controlled price on infant milk powder.

Addressing a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday, Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said that the relevant gazette notification will be issued on Tuesday midnight.

The minister said that there was no price control on infant milk powder and the importers had increased prices without permission. The official said that the new move would prevent the producers from increasing prices obstinately.

The companies which import infant milk powder currently, earn huge profits.

The government is planing to put an end to this. He said a tax imposed on imported infant milk powder had not been increased except for other milk powder.

"We took this decision following a comprehensive market study with regard to infant milk powder on the advise of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to provide relief to the people," he added.