Consumer rights group wants govt. to make goods available at reduced prices

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection yesterday urged the government to make available adequate supplies of the consumer goods at reduced prices from Monday.

President of the Movement Ranjith Vithanage said that it was commendable to reduce the prices of 27 goods, but the government had to ensure that such items were actually available at those prices.

“The Minister of Trade says that these items can be obtained from Sathosa, Cooperatives and Q shops. This is very good but we have seen this government do this before. They issue gazettes and make statements that consumer goods are available at controlled prices, but when we actually go to the shop these items are either out of stock or shop assistants tell us that these items are not available at the government-mandated prices.”

Addressing the media yesterday morning, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane said prices of 27 consumer items would be reduced from Monday.

These items are: red Kekulu – (1 kilo) Rs. 93, white Kekulu – Rs 93, white Nadu – Rs. 96, Samba – Rs. 99, Keeri Samba – Rs 125, kilo of wheat flour – Rs. 84, kilo of white sugar – Rs. 99, kilo of brown sugar – Rs. 125, 100 grams of tea leaves – Rs 95, kilo of red dhal (Australian) – Rs. 165, Indian Big Onions – Rs 120, potatoes (local) – Rs. 180, potatoes (imported from Pakistan) – Rs. 140, kilo of chickpeas – Rs. 175, kilo of dried chili – Rs. 495, 425-gram canned fish (local) – Rs. 220, 425-gram canned fish (imported) – Rs. 265, Thai sprats – Rs. 545, a kilo of chicken with skin – Rs. 400, a kilo of salt – Rs. 43, 400 grams of milk powder – Rs. 355, 500 mililitres of Soya oil – Rs. 310, 115-gram bar of washing soap – Rs. 43, 650-gram bar of washing soap – Rs. 260, scented soap – Rs. 56, 100 mililitres of hand sanitizer – Rs. 250 and SLS certified masks – Rs. 14.