Prices of 600 Essential Items Reduced Immediately

27-Mar-2026

.

The Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development stated that steps have been taken to reduce the prices of 600 essential items and distribute them through Sathosa outlets in order to provide relief to consumers ahead of the upcoming festive season.

Commenting on the initiative, Deputy Minister R.M. Jayawardena stated that this special programme is being implemented with the objective of protecting the public from artificial price hikes in the market during the festive season, as well as from traders selling goods at inflated prices.

He further stated that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure the availability of essential items in the market during the festive period.

Parallel to the Government’s price reduction initiative, raids have been intensified to identify traders selling goods at higher prices in local markets.

Special instructions have been issued to all officers of the Consumer Affairs Authority for this purpose. Islandwide monitoring operations have also been launched.

He emphasised that strict legal action will be taken against traders who act in a manner that causes harm to the public.