<ul><li>Importers assure no festive season shortages or price increases</li><li>CAA launches daily islandwide raids from 20 March</li><li>Govt warns of 15–20% rise, vows price controls if needed</li></ul> The Government observed some wholesale distributors have raised prices of selected items citing the Middle East (ME) conflict, despite importers agreeing to release essential goods without price increases for the festive season, the Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development Ministry said.Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security R.M. Jayawardhana told The Daily Morning yesterday (25) that recent discussions with importers ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year confirmed there are no supply shortages or barriers to maintaining current prices.“The importers informed us there are no obstacles to supplying goods during the festive season and they are releasing goods to the market without increasing prices,” he said.However, he noted the Ministry had identified unusual price increases by some wholesale distributors, particularly under the pretext of higher costs linked to the ME conflict.“Part of the increase could be due to higher transportation costs, but we observe that some distributors have added an additional amount beyond what could be justified as transport expenses,” he said.According to Jayawardhana, wholesalers have agreed to sell previously imported stocks at original prices, with any increases limited to newly imported consignments. Nevertheless, reports have emerged of essential food items being sold at inflated rates.In response, the Ministry has instructed the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to take action, with islandwide emergency raids underway since 20 March.“Emergency raids are being carried out daily across the country,” he said, adding that stricter enforcement will continue if irregular pricing persists.He warned that prices could rise by 15-20 per cent if current global conditions continue, but stressed that the Government is prepared to intervene.“If prices rise excessively, we will impose maximum prices. However, such a situation has not yet arisen,” he said.Jayawardhana further said the Government is working to ensure the availability of essential goods at reasonable prices during the festive period, noting that the CAA has already stepped in to regulate unfair market practices.Demand for essential goods typically increases during the New Year season, driving heightened market activity. This year, concerns have been compounded by the ME conflict, which has affected global shipping routes, fuel prices, and transport costs.Despite these pressures, the Government maintains that the country has sufficient stocks of imported goods for approximately three weeks, with additional orders already placed.“The importers have confirmed that there are adequate stockpiles. The only shortfall is in preserved fish products such as dried fish and dried anchovy, as around 75 per cent of these are imported from Iran. We are taking steps to source them from alternative countries,” he said.He also assured that there has been no widespread stockpiling by consumers, attributing this to the steady supply of essential goods.On rice supplies, Jayawardhana said that market prices have not yet reached the maximum ceiling, but are expected to approach it closer to the festive season.“To prevent any shortage, we have initiated plans to procure paddy through the Paddy Marketing Board and release 5,000 metric tonnes of rice through Lanka Sathosa,” he said.Addressing concerns over a possible sugar shortage, he said that Lanka Sugar Company’s Pelwatta and Sevanagala factories currently hold over 2,000 metric tonnes of sugar, with further imports planned.“There will be no shortage of sugar during the festive season,” he assured.The Ministry’s assurance comes/ amid growing public concern, including discussions on social media and at media briefings, over the availability and pricing of essential goods in the lead-up to the New Year.&nbsp;

Inflated prices of essentials: Traders accused of exploiting crisis 

Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni yesterday (25) assured that the Health Ministry is not considering the increase of medicinal drug prices, despite the increase in the cost of raw materials (ingredients).&nbsp;Speaking to The Daily Morning in response to a question regarding the impact of the increased fuel costs globally on medicine costs, Dr. Wijemuni said there is a maximum ceiling price slapped on 600 medicinal drugs. “These prices cannot be breached”.&nbsp;Explaining, he said that there is also a formula which is followed when calculating the maximum retail prices (MRPs) of medicinal drugs. Dr. Wijemuni said the MRP of medicines is calculated by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, utilising a formula based on cost, insurance, and freight (CIF), taxes, and a regulated markup (CIF plus duties/taxes plus supply chain total markup).&nbsp;&nbsp;He said that legal action could be taken against anyone who violated the maximum ceiling price and MRP.&nbsp;Fielding further questions, he said that the increase in the cost of ingredients would affect local pharmaceutical manufacturers.&nbsp;The local pharmaceutical manufacturers said earlier this week that they would have to increase the cost of the products owing to the increase in the cost of ingredients and import costs. They said however that they would continue to supply medicines at current costs till their old raw material stocks lasted.&nbsp;

Despite raw material costs: No medicine price hikes  

<ul><li>CPC warns hoarding could trigger shortages</li></ul>The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) says that fuel orders currently exceed the country’s actual requirements by around 10 per cent, while assuring there is no risk of a shortage if emergency stockpiling is avoided.Speaking during a television programme, CPC Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage said that Sri Lanka has sufficient fuel reserves to meet demand at least until mid-May, stressing that the present challenges stem not from a lack of fuel but from hoarding and distribution mismanagement.“The real issue isn’t the availability of oil,” he said. “If a ship carrying 40,000 metric tonnes arrives, it fills the demand gap of 40,000. In the past, diesel prices rose by 150%, and what would normally be Rs. 40 became Rs. 60. If this over-purchasing increases further, there could be days when fuel runs short in the country.”He noted the QR code system has been effective in ensuring proper allocation and preventing widespread shortages, adding that monthly fuel consumption requirements are being fully met.“Minor overuse by individual vehicles does not create a significant problem. The reserves are sufficient, and fuel will not run out. The main problem is when people hoard fuel. Some requested 18 fuel vouchers when normally they should only take three, claiming they needed it for six months. We do not allow such hoarding,” he said.Dr. Neththikumarage further explained that even if a few individuals store large quantities, fuel allocated for six months would still arrive in phases. However, he warned that excessive hoarding could disrupt daily distribution and create the appearance of shortages.“For ordinary consumers, there will be no disruptions,” he added.

Fuel orders exceed demand by 10%

<ul><li>One Gulf airline still at BIA unable to return due to airport &nbsp;closure&nbsp;</li></ul> Deputy Civil Aviation Minister, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said the Government has offered the use of the Mattala International Airport during the ongoing crisis in the Middle Eastern (ME) region.&nbsp;Responding to questions from The Daily Morning when contacted, he said the Government has offered the use of the said Airport as an alternative transit point owing to current issues faced by airlines from ME countries.&nbsp; The offer was made to Etihad, Qatar Airways, Emirates and all other ME flights facing difficulties owing to the war in the ME.&nbsp;He noted that currently, there is one airline, also from the Gulf region, which had arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake on 28 February and is unable to return due to the closure of airports.&nbsp;According to well-informed sources in the civil aviation industry, tensions in the ME have caused the full or partial shutdown of airspaces that has resulted in severe setbacks for Gulf travel. Many international airports have all been forced to either temporarily suspend or cut down on their operations till the situation eases out, they said.

For ME airline flights: Govt. offers Mattala as alternate transit 

<ul><li>Overseas ops expose trafficking network</li></ul> The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has apprehended 29 major drug suppliers responsible for trafficking narcotics into Sri Lanka, Deputy Public Security Minister attorney Sunil Watagala said.Speaking at the “Ratama Ekata (Nation United) – National Operation” programme in Trincomalee, he said the illegal drug trade operates through two key components, the supply chain and consumer demand, with narcotics often smuggled by sea through entry points such as the Trincomalee Port, largely targeting local youth.He said the Government has shifted its focus to simultaneously curb demand and dismantle supply networks, an area he claimed had been neglected by previous administrations. According to him, the Government has taken a strategic decision to target the highest tiers of the drug network, which had previously faced minimal resistance at coastal borders and airports.Watagala revealed that CID officers had carried out operations in Indonesia, Nepal, and Pakistan as part of efforts to track down key suspects linked to international trafficking networks.“Currently, 29 high-profile suppliers are in custody, with those extradited from Indonesia already providing confessions. These developments have reportedly caused significant concern among those involved in the trade,” he said.He further noted the narcotics trade is part of a broader “black market” driven by the pursuit of easy money and closely linked to organised crime and the illegal arms trade.The Deputy Minister also alleged the network had been allowed to flourish in the past due to political patronage, claiming that certain elements within the political establishment had supported such activities and used illicit funds to finance election campaigns.

CID nets 29 major drug suppliers

Former Head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital on Tuesday (24) following a sudden illness.Sallay is being held under a 90-day detention order to interrogate his links to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.Meanwhile, reports indicate that family members had requested permission to visit him to check on his condition, but that approval has not been granted.He was admitted to the hospital after his condition was brought to the attention of the Magistrate. Following an examination, he was referred to a doctor and subsequently admitted to the Hospital on medical advice.

Sallay hospitalised for illness 

Even though the Government’s policy of reclaiming official residences allocated to political authorities is aimed at ensuring the more productive and economic use of State assets, only 10 of the 52 such residences taken back have so far been allocated for official purposes, The Daily Morning learns. Information received under the Right to Information Act revealed that 53 official residences that had previously been allocated to former Presidents, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers were identified for repossession under the Government’s policy changes. Of these, 52 residences have already been taken back by the Public Administration Ministry. One residence that had been allocated to a former President has been returned to the Presidential Secretariat, it is yet to be formally handed over to the said Ministry. Of the residences that have been taken back under the Ministry's purview, only 10 have so far been allocated to various institutions on a temporary basis. These include four residences allocated to the Justice and National Integration Ministry, two to the State Intelligence Service, and one each to the Criminal Investigation Department, the Public-Private Partnership Unit, the Women and Child Affairs Ministry for the National Commission on Women, and the Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry. When inquired about the total revenue generated from renting, leasing, or otherwise allocating official residences between January of last year (2025) and January 2026, the Ministry stated that analysed information could not be provided. After assuming office during 2024–2025, the new administration initiated a review of official residences assigned to Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and arrangements were made to discontinue the long-standing practice of providing official bungalows to political authorities, with the stated objective of ensuring the more productive economic use of State assets.

Only 1/5 repossessed residences used for official needs  

A decision has been taken to ensure that examinations are conducted as scheduled, according to the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to ensure the orderly functioning of the public service.The second meeting of the said Sub-Committee was held on Tuesday (24) at the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. Discussions were held on immediate measures required to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of Government services to the public and to address challenges faced by public servants.&nbsp;Attention was also focused on maintaining the continuous operation of services under the Ministries of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Health; Education; and Justice. Accordingly, it was decided to ensure that essential medicines are supplied to hospitals without disruption. Challenges in passenger transport services and the railway system, as well as future measures, were also discussed.&nbsp;Focus was further placed on steps to be taken regarding the transportation of essential goods. In addition, attention was given to introducing digital service systems to facilitate remote work and enhance the efficiency of existing services. It was also noted that these activities would be supervised under the Digital Economy Ministry. Instructions were further issued to review current energy management practices across all Ministries and Departments and to take steps to implement necessary policy changes.

Exams to be held as scheduled 

The Civil Collective for Malaiyaha Reconstruction organisation said that the estates are being largely neglected in the post-Ditwah restoration programmes, and that some of the estates are not being restored with basic facilities.Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (25), Convenor of the Collective, Selvaraja Rajasegar said that even in the camps, the Malaiyaha community is mistreated, and that in some estates in Badulla, camps are also doubling as schools, in turn requiring camp dwellers to move out for the duration of the school hours, while some estates, including Gavarakale, have not been restored with electricity after Ditwah destroyed infrastructure.&nbsp;“In some areas in Badulla, people are living in the same houses that were destroyed by the landslides; there is nowhere for them to go,” he said. He further added that data about the broken roads have not been taken by any of the authorities yet.The Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry was unavailable for comment.&nbsp;The issues of the Malaiyaha community remain an unaddressed issue for a long while, and yesterday, the community submitted a 15-point set of demands on their rights to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Some of the key demands include financial aid of up to Rs. five million for destroyed homes, equal treatment in relief distribution, and the provision of formal land ownership documents. They are also calling for transitional shelters that meet humanitarian standards, and the redevelopment of estate settlements into sustainable villages with proper infrastructure.

Inflated prices of essentials: Traders accused of exploiting ...

Despite raw material costs: No medicine price hikes

Despite raw material costs: No ...

Fuel orders exceed demand by 10%

Fuel orders exceed demand by 1 ...

For ME airline flights: Govt. offers Mattala as alternate transit

For ME airline flights: Govt. ...

CID nets 29 major drug suppliers

CID nets 29 major drug supplie ...

Sallay hospitalised for illness

Sallay hospitalised for illnes ...

Only 1/5 repossessed residences used for official needs

Only 1/5 repossessed residence ...

Exams to be held as scheduled

Exams to be held as scheduled

Post-Ditwah recovery leaves Estates behind

Post-Ditwah recovery leaves Es ...

Despite raw material costs: No medicine price hikes

Despite raw material costs: No ...

Fuel orders exceed demand by 10%

Fuel orders exceed demand by 1 ...

For ME airline flights: Govt. offers Mattala as alternate transit

For ME airline flights: Govt. ...

CID nets 29 major drug suppliers

CID nets 29 major drug supplie ...

Sallay hospitalised for illness

Sallay hospitalised for illnes ...

Only 1/5 repossessed residences used for official needs

Only 1/5 repossessed residence ...

Exams to be held as scheduled

Exams to be held as scheduled

Post-Ditwah recovery leaves Estates behind

Post-Ditwah recovery leaves Es ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Despite raw material costs: No medicine price hikes

Despite raw material costs: No ...

Fuel orders exceed demand by 10%

Fuel orders exceed demand by 1 ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

For ME airline flights: Govt. offers Mattala as alternate transit

For ME airline flights: Govt. ...

CID nets 29 major drug suppliers

CID nets 29 major drug supplie ...

Sallay hospitalised for illness

Sallay hospitalised for illnes ...

Only 1/5 repossessed residences used for official needs

Only 1/5 repossessed residence ...