According to media reports, the government has reconsidered raising the prices of several essential food items.
In particular, the Cost of Living Committee has decided to increase the price of a kilo of milk powder by Rs. 200. Accordingly, the price of a 400 gram packet of milk powder will increase by Rs. 80.
The milk powder companies have demanded an increase of Rs. 350 per kilo of milk powder and Rs. 140 per 400 gram packet of milk powder. But the government says there will be no such increase.
However, all these decisions taken by the Cost of Living Committee will be presented to the Cabinet meeting next Monday and it will be decided whether they will be implemented or not.
The amount of milk powder imported to the country per month is 7,500 metric tons. The daily requirement of the country is 250 metric tons and only 20% is provided by local manufacturers.
Currently there is a shortage of milk powder in many parts of the island. It is learned that this situation has especially affected the plantation people in the hills. Some estate-based crooks these days have also started a racket of making and selling their own packets of milk powder, which is used to make ice cream instead of milk powder.
Meanwhile, there is a strong demand for a few packets of milk powder sold daily by a local dairy company in Nuwara Eliya. Recently, the media had reported that due to this situation, the police had to be called for assistance.
Meanwhile, malt milk powder like Nestamolt is also slowly rising in price. These malt milk powders and fritters are available in the market these days.
When there was a shortage of milk powder in the country, it was read that there is milk powder in the containers that are stuck in the port these days.
Meanwhile, the Cost of Living Committee has given permission to import sugar. Also, one kilogram of wheat flour costs Rs. 10 and a bag of cement costs Rs. 50 and the price of a domestic gas cylinder is Rs. Recommendations have been made to increase it by 550.
The final decision on the price hike will be taken at the Cabinet meeting next Monday.
The bag of cement which was Rs. 950 now sells for Rs. 1050.
The people are still under severe pressure due to the government’s occasional increase in the prices of essential commodities. Also, the people as well as the traders who import essential commodities are facing severe difficulties due to the dollar crisis in Sri Lanka these days.
The relief promised by this government when it came to power has become a dream of the people today. The government is trying to build walkways on the shoulders of the people. Isn’t it ridiculous to say that a government that has money for them has no money to provide relief to the people?
Shani