* Reduction in prices of essential commodities in market Wed, Aug 10, 2022, 11:57 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Aug 10, Colombo: Trade, Commerce and Food Safety Minister Mr. Nalin Fernando says since the Ministry of Trade started importing 10 essential commodities through the open account system from July 1, the price of goods in the market has decreased.

The Minister expressed these views today (10) at the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Safety while participating in a press conference with the officers of the Consumer Affairs Authority.

The Trade Minister said prices of essential food items were lowered in Sri Lanka Sathosa yesterday and hopes to give that advantage to the common people and further reduce the prices in the future.

In the last week, the price of a dhal kilo has dropped by 175 rupees, imported rice by 45 rupees, sugar by 25 rupees, while the wholesale prices of other essential goods in the market have also dropped significantly.

The Minister pointed out that the reduction in prices should be passed on to the consumer under the retail prices and that necessary measures will be taken together with the Consumer Affairs Authority to ensure that.

He mentioned that it was informed through a gazette that rice suitable for human consumption should not be used for animal products and a month's time had been given for it.

The Minister said legal measures will be taken through the Consumer Affairs Authority against those who fail to comply, and as a result 4,000 tons of rice was seized recently. He added that there is a need for an alternative to animal food.

He said that the Ministry of Trade intervened to import maize under the Indian loan scheme, and that in the future, they will work together with other ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture to increase the local production of food items such as maize.

The Minister mentioned that there is no need to change the control price related to rice and also directed attention to the price increase of biscuits.

Minister Fernando said, if necessary, steps can be taken to declare biscuits as an essential product and place it under the purview of the Consumer Affairs Authority and introduce a control price.

Meanwhile, the Trade Minister noted that there is a problem regarding the weight and price of materials such as cement, iron, wire, chicken meat, eggs, etc. and instructed the Consumer Affairs Authority to deal with it.