Sri Lankan government reduces prices of food items ahead of festive season

Sri Lankan government has decided to slash prices of certain food items from December 01 to provide relief to consumers ahead of the festive season, the Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said today.

Handing over 300,000 kilograms of the first rice stock converted from the paddy crop of Yala Season to the Lak Sathosa Institute this morning at its McCollum Warehouse in Colombo, the Minister said the rice will be sold at a concessionary rate to the consumers through the Lak Sathosa and Cooperative outlets.

The paddy harvest of the Yala season bought by the government has been converted to rice and issued to 233 Lak Sathosa and Cooperative outlets island wide.

The government says a kilo of Samba rice will be sold at a retail price of Rs. 63.50 while a kilo of Nadu rice will be sold at a retail price of. The retail price of a kilo of Red Raw Samba will be Rs. 45.50 while a kilo of white raw Samba will be sold at Rs. 53.50.

The Minister warned of a price control if the private traders try to sell rice at a high price.

According to the Minister Fernando, the prices of big onions, canned fish and sprats have also been reduced with effect from tomorrow and the government plans to immediately import stocks of big onions.