There will be no wheat flour shortage in the market since the flour stocks ordered from Türkiye and Dubai, UAE are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on the 15th, Trade, Commerce and Food Security Minister Nalin
Fernando said.
The Minister made these remarks at a meeting held with the All Ceylon Bakery Owners Association (ACBOA) at the Ministry yesterday (05).
He said there is no need to increase the price of wheat flour and that it is not practical to impose a fixed price for wheat flour at this moment.
At the meeting, the minister has informed the ministry officials to submit a report in writing on the requirement of wheat flour for local consumption for the next six months.
ACBOA President N.K. Jayawardena said the price of a loaf of bread has not increased to Rs.300 and that it was just a rumour.
However, many consumers have already accused Minister Fernando of failing to provide solutions to many of their plights.
It was reported that President Ranil Wickremesinghe intervened to solve the issue related to controlling egg prices, a move initiated by the minister.
Accordingly, President Wickremesinghe has called for a special discussion on Wednesday (07) to remove or revise the fixed price imposed on eggs.
This discussion is scheduled to be held at the Presidential Secretariat and it was reported that the meeting has been called after the producers have informed the Secretariat that they cannot provide their products at the fixed prices.
They have requested the President to remove the fixed price.
If the fixed price cannot be removed, the producers have requested the President to amend the gazette notification by imposing fixed prices ranging between Rs. 55 and 60 for an egg.
Meanwhile, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has also been informed that the gazette notification issued by the Trade Ministry should be revised.
Accordingly, this is to be done next week and the CAA is to discuss the matter with the egg producers.
However, it was reported to Sri Lanka Mirror that an egg businessman who is a political supporter of former minister Johnston Fernando is aggravating the issue despite the majority of egg producers agreeing to provide eggs at the controlled price.
It is also said that this businessman is one of the former minister’s gangsters.
Egg prices were fixed based on agreement – Minister
Meanwhile, Trade Minister Fernando said the gazette which was issued introducing fixed prices for eggs will not be withdrawn since a controlled price for eggs was set following a written agreement reached with the egg producers.
Therefore, the minister said the controlled price was not set at the discretion of the ministry or the CAA.
Speaking at a news briefing held at his office in Dandugama, Ja-Ela on the 4th, the minister said that the price of an egg has come down to Rs.50 from Rs.65.
