Vegetable prices set to rise due to inclement weather

By Yohan Perera  

Inclement weather conditions that are prevailing in Sri Lanka currently will increase vegetable prices, a trader in the Manning Market said yesterday.  

Former President of the Manning Market Traders Association, S. M. Upasena said prices of vegetables will increase in the coming weeks. “Plantations have been severely affected due to heavy showers that have been experienced during the last few days.  

Therefore, it is obvious that vegetable prices will go up in the coming weeks,” Upasena told Daily Mirror.  

“Prices were on the low side before the change of weather patterns, and that had affected the growers. However, prices will surely go up in the coming days. Weather has become a major factor which affects the vegetable prices because of climate change in Sri Lanka,” he added.  

A kilogram of carrots is Rs 100, cabbage Rs 50, tomato Rs 100, capsicum Rs 300, beans Rs 150 to Rs 200 and green chillies Rs 250 to Rs 300, according to Upasena. He said these prices will change before long.  

It was reported that vegetable plantations in areas such as Welikada, Keppetipola and Habaragala in the Badulla District have been destroyed due to adverse weather conditions.