October 11, Colombo (LNW): A significant price reduction in the local egg market has been announced by the All Ceylon Egg Producers Association, with the aim of reshaping the competitive landscape within the poultry industry.
The Association confirmed that the retail price of white eggs will now be set at Rs. 18, while red eggs will be available at Rs. 20—marking a Rs. 10 decrease from previous rates.
Navod Sampath Bandara, Chairperson of the Association, stated that the move was a strategic decision intended to push back against the dominance of major industrial-scale producers, whom he accused of manipulating market conditions and artificially inflating prices.
According to Bandara, the price cut is not only a gesture towards affordability for consumers but also an effort to disrupt what he described as a longstanding monopoly.
However, the announcement has not gone unchallenged. Ajith Gunasekara, Chairman of the All Ceylon Poultry Traders Association, warned that making price decisions without thorough analysis of supply chains, production costs, and broader economic trends could create instability in an already delicate market. These kinds of moves, driven more by emotion than strategy, may have unintended consequences, he pointed out, urging caution among stakeholders.
At an event held yesterday (10) to mark World Egg Day, Professor Idunil Pathirana, Head of the Department of Animal Science at the University of Ruhuna, revealed ongoing efforts to manage the oversupply through international trade.
He revealed that they are working closely with the Department of Animal Production and Health to explore export options for the excess eggs produced locally.
