BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA Private retailers have increased the prices of dhal and canned fish claiming that they couldn’t sell them at the government stipulated prices of Rs. 65 per kg of dhal and Rs. 100 per can of fish. As learnt by The Morning, a subsidy would be provided to Sathosa and Co-operatives, the two state-owned retailers for providing dhal and canned fish at government-controlled price. However, since the private retailers would not be receiving the subsidy, they have decided to increase the prices, it is learnt. When contacted, Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Director of Consumer Affairs and Information Asela Bandara told The Morning that the CAA is conducting daily raids to monitor the implementation of maximum retail prices (MRP) announced by the Government. “The raids are being conducted while avoiding any inconvenience to the public as the retailers are busy providing essentials for the public during the non-curfew times and therefore, the CAA was making sure the supplying of necessities to the public and at the same time the raids are being conducted,” he added. Meanwhile, a famous supermarket chain has also announced the increase of the prices of dhal and canned fish. Accordingly, the new price of a kilogramme of dhal is Rs 134 and the new price of a tin of canned fish is Rs. 193. A kilogramme of dhal was usually sold at Rs. 130 before it was reduced to Rs.65. The control price has been in effect for just 20 days. Sathosa Chairman Nushad Perera noted that all Sathosa outlets countrywide are still selling dhal and canned fish at controlled prices and that there is no change in that.