Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe announced today (16) that the government will implement maximum retail prices on a range of essential goods to address the rising cost of living. Speaking to the media in Anuradhapura, he highlighted the stark disparity between production costs and current market prices for several items.
“A water bottle that sells for Rs. 100 could be priced at less than Rs. 40, and a packet of salt produced at Rs. 52 is being sold for Rs. 100,” the Minister noted, emphasizing the inefficiencies and overpricing prevalent in sectors like the salt industry.
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), in collaboration with the Consumer Council, is now working to establish and enforce these price ceilings. Minister Samarasinghe assured that the measures would be finalized soon, aiming to alleviate the financial burden on consumers struggling with the soaring prices of essential goods.
