Goods aplenty for festive season

Irangika Range

Ample stocks of essential goods and commodities were ready for distribution during the forthcoming festive season, Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday.

He said buffer stocks of essential items were maintained by government owned stores to prevent any shortage and ensure that consumers received these items at concessionary rates through Co-operative and Laksathosa branches for the upcoming festive season. "We took measures to import several items not produced in Sri Lanka. This move will avert any shortage during the festive season.

Sufficient stocks of dhal,white sugar, wheat flour, sprats and chillies have been imported to cater to the rise in the demand during the festive season," the minister said.

He said sufficient stocks of essential items such as potatoes, rice, green gram, red onions, big onions, canned fish, chillies and gram which are grown locally are stocked at state owned warehouses.

"Sufficient stocks of rice will be released from the buffer stocks maintained at the Paddy Marketing Board stores islandwide to meet the consumer demand," he said. This move will help stabilise the prices of essential commodities in the local market, enabling consumers to make their purchases at concessionary rates, the minister said. There is no room for an increase in the price of essential items during the festive season, Minister Fernando said. Meanwhile, the Consumer Affairs Authority launched raids to nab errant traders selling essential items at higher prices during the festive season.