Fresh milk trade turning into mafia: National Consumer Front

27 January 2026 06:54 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Colombo, January 27 (Daily Mirror) - The sale of fresh milk in Sri Lanka has turned into a 'mafia', with dairy companies allegedly exploiting consumers, National Consumer Front leader Asela Sampath charged on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media, Sampath said a growing number of consumers have shifted from milk powder to fresh milk in recent years, creating higher demand that is being unfairly leveraged by companies.

He said milk farmers currently sell a litre of fresh milk at prices ranging between Rs.160 and Rs.200, while the same litre is sold to consumers at prices between Rs.430 and Rs.550.

Sampath questioned the justification for such sharp price increases between farmgate and retail levels, asking how companies could mark up the price of the same product to such an extent before releasing it to the local market.

He called on the Agriculture Minister to intervene immediately and introduce a sustainable solution, stressing that the issue directly affects consumers who supported the present government.

Sampath also raised concerns over quality and safety, alleging that some companies fail to give proper attention to product expiry dates. He urged the relevant ministry to take action to regulate both pricing and quality standards in the fresh milk market.

Comments - 8

Night owl Tuesday, 27 January 2026 07:23 AM

This is a valid concern. Even some companies add milk powder to adjust the thickness as the fresh milk does not meet the density standards always. Instead of boiling it down to reduce the water content, milk powder is added.

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Gajendran Tuesday, 27 January 2026 03:26 PM

Supermarkets take 30% margins, biggest profits for supermarkets.

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Chethan Gunadasa Tuesday, 27 January 2026 07:52 AM

This Sampath fellow clearly doesn't understand what production cost means. After paying for wages, raw materials, bills, taxes the mark up would naturally be at least double. This is common with any product in the market not just milk...

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wickrama Tuesday, 27 January 2026 07:55 AM

IMHO, although a bit too high, it does not appear to be excessive. Collecting, refrigerated storage, capital cost of equipment, pasteurizing, bottling and supplies, transportation, distribution, and losses costs need to be added. It is not a charity but a business.

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Farmer Tuesday, 27 January 2026 08:44 AM

Timely subject to discuss. Hope this will get the attention of the authorities. Either the farmer should get a better farm gate price or the consumer, who is trying to get out of trap created by the "Milk Powder Mafia" should get the benefit. Fresh Milk producers making colossal profits. Thanks for pointing this out.

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Sohan Tuesday, 27 January 2026 08:51 AM

We need people to find these kind of things and force any party governing to make changes. System changes should be initiated in this way one by one as non of the governments do major changes as promised. So lets find issues like this and build social media awareness and get them changed. Definitely the price should be forced to reduce to max of 250 at least. 50 rupees more than enough for profits and packaging.

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Bala Tuesday, 27 January 2026 09:36 AM

Certainly, the fresh milk producers or suppliers are exploiting the consumers.

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Percy Tuesday, 27 January 2026 08:28 PM

Before the economic disaster Fresh Milk of all brands was Rs 200/= max. How come it has gone up by 150%? It is an exploitation by all Brands concerned. Same with HIGHLAND butter which was just Rs. 275/= and now its Rs. 1100/=. There is a very big discrepancy in the pricing. It's better to buy ANCHOR at 1390/=.

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