Vegetable prices triple, fish costs double amid supply shortages

By Yohan Basura

Colombo, Dec. 1 (Daily Mirror) - Prices of essential food items soared across the country yesterday morning as ongoing adverse weather and disaster conditions severely disrupted supply chains.

Vegetable prices rose by more than threefold while fish prices doubled, with major wholesale markets including Peliyagoda and Dambulla reporting severe shortages. Many sections of these economic centres were left deserted as deliveries failed to arrive, leaving traders with only limited stocks,

mainly of up-country vegetables. At the Peliyagoda vegetable market, wholesale prices reached record levels, with carrots selling at Rs. 1,500 per kilogram, beans at Rs. 1,300, leeks at Rs. 1,200, and cabbage between Rs. 900 and Rs. 1,000 per kilogram.

Traders said the small available stocks were cleared within a few hours.

Other vegetables also recorded steep increases, with pumpkin selling at Rs. 600 per kilogram, brinjal at Rs. 900, and green chillies climbing to Rs. 1,500 per kilogram. Supplies of many other vegetables were either extremely limited or unavailable altogether.

The situation was similar at the Peliyagoda fish market, where stocks were scarce. Wholesale prices were reported at Rs. 800 per kilogram for balaya and linna, while salaya was selling at Rs. 600 per kilogram.

A wholesale trader explained that the shortage was caused by fishermen being unable to go out to sea due to rough weather and the removal of fishing cages for safety reasons. He added that there was little hope of regular fish supplies returning for at least the next two days.

Consumers across several districts reported difficulties in purchasing essential food items, as both limited availability and soaring prices continued to place added pressure on households already affected by the continuing disaster situation.