- Within the past 48 hours, prices of domestic gas cylinders saw a huge increase followed by increases in the prices of flour, cement, bread, lunch packets, a cup of tea and possibly fuel in the coming days
- Following the increase in the price of flour, Bakery Owners yesterday announced that a 450 kg loaf of bread would be increased by Rs.5
By JAMILA HUSAIN
Sri Lanka has within the past 48 hours announced rising prices for basic necessities which has led to anger among citizens throughout the nation as the public still struggles to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw many livelihoods come to a standstill especially during the 42 day lockdown.
Litro Gas Lanka who on Sunday night announced a skyrocketing increase on its domestic gas cylinders, yesterday made a small U-turn by offering the public a slight reduction. As a result, a 12.5kg gas cylinder now costs Rs.2,675, a 5KG cylinder costs 1,071, a 2.3 kg cylinder costs Rs.506 and a 37.5 kg cylinder costs Rs. 8,300.
Laugfs Gas also increased its prices on Sunday night for the Colombo district with a 12.5 kg cylinder increased by Rs.984 to Rs.2,840 and a 5 kg cylinder increased by Rs.393 to Rs.1,136.
With gas prices now a burden on the consumer, social media had an increasing number of inquiries yesterday on the price of firewood and kerosene with the public voicing their disgust over the sudden increase.
Following this increase, yesterday morning, Prima and Serendib Flour Mills announced that a kilo of flour had been increased by Rs.10 with immediate effect subsequently leading to an increase in the prices of lunch packets, fried rice, kottu and a cup of milk tea by Rs.10 from today.
Chairman of the All Island Canteen Owners Association, Asela Sampath told the Daily Mirror that the price of plain tea however would remain at Rs.25 but lamented that a small increase of Rs.10 would be a loss to the canteen owners.
He said with the massive increase in the price of gas, the price of a lunch packet should be increased by Rs.30, but considering the situation of the people, the AICOA had decided to increase the prices by Rs.10.
Sampath said with the massive escalation in the prices of essentials, the canteen industry was in danger of collapse as people would now refrain from buying cooked food from shops and canteens.
Following the increase of flour, Bakery Owners yesterday announced that a 450 kg loaf of bread would be increased by Rs.5 as they had received the relevant flour stocks for the bakery products at the increased price. The price of a 50kg cement was also increased by Rs.93, officials said with a bag now costing Rs. 1,098 from its earlier price of Rs.1,005.
Meanwhile, with the existing sudden price hikes, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation yesterday hinted that a fuel price hike was also possible considering the fuel prices in the world market.
CPC Chairman W.W.D. Sumith Wijesinghe told Daily Mirror that global prices were fast increasing and the price of a crude oil barrel, which was US $85 on October 1, had increased to US $92.
With Sri Lanka just coming out of the 42-day lockdown and with the economy facing a severe brunt, social media broke out in debate yesterday with a majority voicing their anger against the sudden price hikes. On Twitter and Facebook, people expressed their disappointment at the rising
cost of living with many calling it the incompetence of the government while some slammed the opposition over its dull silence.
- The price of a 50kg bag of cement was also increased by Rs.93, officials said with a bag now costing Rs. 1,098 from its earlier price of Rs.1,005
Fuel price hike in the offing?
By Kelum Bandara
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has proposed the revision of fuel prices in keeping with spikes in the world market, an official said.
CPC Chairman Sumith Wijesinghe said the world market price of petrol remained at US $76 a barrel when the last revision was done in June, this year, and it had increased to US $ 92 a barrel in October.
He said he had taken up the matter with Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila to be referred to the Cabinet.
“We asked for a price revision first in April, this year. It was enforced only in June. We have sought a price hike now to reflect changes in the world market. We expect it to be endorsed by November if the government decides,” he said.
Earlier, Minister Gammanpila said he would seek to establish a fuel price stabilisation fund to absorb stocks in the world market.
- Minister Gammanpila said he would seek to establish a fuel price stabilisation fund to absorb shocks in the world market
Bread prices up by Rs. 5 from last night: Bakery Owners’ Assn.
By Chaturanga Samarawickrama
The price of a 450g loaf of bread has increased by Rs. 5 from today, the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) said.
ACBOA President N.K. Jayawardene told the Daily Mirror that the request for the price increase would be made for the bakery owners’ who did not increase their prices at the previous price hike in August.
Prima Ceylon (Private) Limited and Serendib Flour Mills (Pvt) Ltd have raised wheat flour prices by Rs.10 last morning.
“We have received the relevant flour stocks for the bakery products at the increased price,” he said. Accordingly, the price of a loaf of bread would be increased by Rs. 5.
Lunch packets, milk tea, meals to go up by Rs. 10 from today: AICOA
By Chaturanga Samarawickrama
Considering the recent gas price increase, the All Island Canteen Owners’ Association (AICOA) is to increase the prices of lunch packets, fried rice, kottu and a cup of milk tea by Rs.10 from today,
AICOA Chairman Asela Sampath told the Daily Mirror that the price of plain tea remains at Rs.25.
“With the massive increase in the price of gas, the price of a lunch packet should be increased by Rs.30, but considering the precarious situation of the people, the AICOA has decided to increase the prices by Rs.10,” he said.
With the escalation in the prices of all foodstuff, our industry is in danger of collapse and people will refrain from buying cooked food from shops and canteens, Sampath lamented.
The hoteliers are more humane than the government in this present situation, he said.
