President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today instructed the authorities to put an end to the organized efforts of some businessmen to increase prices by pretending to have a shortage of goods.
The President has directed that adequate stocks of all essential food items be maintained to ensure that there is no shortage of goods.
The President made this statement at a discussion held at the President’s House in Fort this afternoon (02) on finding a speedy solution to the challenges facing trade, commerce and food security.
A portion of the agricultural produce distributed to the wholesale market should be made available directly to the rural market. The President said that the reduction in transport costs would enable the rural consumer to obtain goods at lower prices and the farmer to receive higher prices.
The President instructed the Consumer Affairs Authority to take legal action against those who take advantage of the current situation and trade at unfair prices.
There was a lengthy discussion on the need to keep the Sathosa and Co-operative outlets island-wide active and control the prices of essential food items without allowing prices to be set at traders’ discretion.
Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security Nalin Fernando, Chief of Staff to the President Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade Mr. S. T. Kodikara, and the Heads of Linear Institutions of the Ministry were also present at the discussion.
What about Litro hoarding their products and then increase the price under the pretext if shortages?