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No gas prices hike

21 Jun 2021

  •  Cabinet Sub-Comm. rejects gas companies’ request

  • No decision on consumer goods’ prices hike: Alagiyawanna

  By Buddhika Samaraweera   The Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to study whether the prices of domestic liquefied petroleum (LP) gas should be increased, has decided not to increase the prices, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told reporters yesterday (21). He was speaking following the conclusion of a meeting convened by the Committee to decide on the request made by gas companies to increase the price of gas cylinders. Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. and Laugfs Gas had recently made this request from the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) citing a financial crisis given the increase in gas prices in the world market. Meanwhile, in response to claims that there are plans to increase the prices of consumer goods such as milk powder, gas, cement and chicken, Co-operative Services, Marketing Development, and Consumer Protection State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said that the Government has not yet taken any decision regarding an increase of the prices of these items. However, he said that in the current situation with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the relevant companies have requested to increase the prices of the above-mentioned products due to the significant increases in the prices in the world market. “But, the Government has so far not taken any decision to increase the prices of consumer goods such as milk powder, gas, cement, and chicken,” he noted. “Discussions are underway with the companies that produce gas and cement to provide some relief to the people.” Speaking about the gazette notification issued by the Government regarding the registration of warehouses containing essential commodities such as milk powder, sugar, paddy, and rice, Alagiyawanna said that the failure to register such warehouses as mentioned in the said gazette notification will result in legal action being taken against the store owners. “The purpose of publishing this gazette notification is not to harass those who are engaged in fair trade, but to inform the public that disciplinary action should be taken against such fraudulent businessmen and to protect the consumer as well as the fair businessmen. Further, by obtaining accurate data on these warehouses, the Government can decide as to whether the tax burden will be borne by the Government and the prices will be maintained without any increase by providing government aids or subsidies or tax concessions,” he further said.


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