The National Consumer Front (NCF) has attributed the recent spike in vegetable prices to the Government's failure to establish an effective system for regulating essential commodity prices during emergencies. NCF President Asela Sampath told The Daily Morning that the prices of vegetables such as carrots and beans had sharply increased in recent days, and alleged that some traders were exploiting the situation for quick profits. He said this was happening because the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security, together with the Consumer Affairs Authority, had not implemented a price-stabilising mechanism to respond to crises.
Sampath argued that the Government should have been prepared with a plan to ensure access to essential goods at reasonable prices. Instead, he said, officials failed to anticipate disruptions caused by severe weather. With no clear strategy in place, he urged the public to avoid purchasing goods sold at excessively high prices.
The surge in prices coincides with expected shortages brought on by flooding and landslides that have damaged key agricultural areas. Panic buying in Colombo and other major cities has further strained supplies.
Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe was unavailable for comment. However, the Ministry issued a statement assuring that essential commodities remain sufficiently stocked, despite temporary transport disruptions. It urged consumers to avoid stockpiling and warned traders against hoarding or creating artificial scarcity.
Source: www.themorning.lk
