No increase in milk powder prices: CAA

9 August 2013 05:49 pm

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) today dismissed claims that milk powder prices would be increased in the wake of growing concerns over the alleged contamination of imported milk powder.

CAA Chairman Rumy Marzook said milk powder prices would not be increased though local and imported milk powder companies had requested for an increase in the price of milk powder.

He said the Price Control Council of the CAA had rejected all requests made by milk powder companies to increase the price of milk powder.

“There is continued speculation that we will increase the prices, but it won’t happen. We have received several requests to increase prices but no such decision has been made. We do not intend to increase the price of milk powder,” Mr. Marzook said.

Meanwhile Milco, a local supplier of milk and milk products said today that its monthly revenue had increased from Rs.75 million to Rs.130 million during the past three months because of an increased demand.

Milco Chairman Sunil Wickramasinghe said the demand for fresh milk had risen by 20% amid concerns over milk powder consumption. “There is a heavy demand for our products right now,” he said and added that Milco produces 210,000 litres of milk a day.

Meanwhile it is reported that Sri Lanka imported 6,000 metric tonnes of milk powder each month. (Olindhi Jayasundere)