Govt. appoints Cabinet Sub-Committee on Cost of Living

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

The government has appointed a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Cost of Living (CoL) in order to keep prices of essential commodities stable and ensure a steady supply of them, Plantation Industries Minister Ramesh Pathirana said.  The proposed Cabinet Sub Committee will work to keep the cost of living stable by providing policies and practical solutions focusing on market demand and supply fluctuations, weather effects, seasonal product changes, and international market prices, Minister Pathirana said. The meetings of the Cabinet sub-committee on CoL will be chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other members of the committee are Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Minister of Trade Wimal Weerawansa, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda and Plantation Industries Minister Ramesh Pathirana.  In addition, State Ministers of Paddy and Grains, Organic Food, Vegetables, Fruits, Chillies, Onion and Potato Cultivation, Coconut, Kithul, Palmyrah and Rubber Cultivation promotion and related Industrial Product Management Export Diversification, Rubber Cultivation-Promotion and Related Industrial Product Manufacturing and Export Diversification will also participate in the CoL discussions, Minister Pathirana said.