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National Food Promo Board outlets to sell subsidised food

07 Jul 2022

  • Rice, veggies, fruits, dry food, dairy at concessionary prices
BY Buddhika Samaraweera With the intention of providing rice, vegetables, fruits, other food items, and dairy products to the public for consumption without shortage, the Ministry of Agriculture has planned to expand the sale of such commodities through the sales outlets under the National Food Promotion Board (NFPB). Speaking to the media, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the ministry has planned to prepare a programme to provide rice, vegetables, fruits, other dry food items, and dairy products to the public for consumption without shortage, through NFPB-owned outlets. Under this programme, he said that the people would be able to purchase such products at subsidised prices, lower than the prevailing market prices. “As a measure to reduce the pressure that the people have to face with the increase in the prices of goods in the market, the network of the NFPB is expected to be expanded within this year itself. Products such as rice produced by the Paddy Marketing Board, and spices, and dairy products of the Milco Company Ltd. and the National Livestock Development Board are available at these shops at concessionary prices,” he said. Amaraweera, speaking further, mentioned that the strengthening of the sales outlets network, including those belonging to the NFPB and the Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka, is currently being done in order to save the people trapped by the “rice mafia”, who he claimed is controlling the market at present. Due to the economic crisis in the country, especially the depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee against the US dollar, the inflation rate in Sri Lanka is very high at present. As a result, the prices of almost all consumer goods and the fees charged for other services have gone up by huge amounts in recent months. The issues that have arisen in importing certain commodities due to the prevailing foreign exchange reserve shortage in the country have also contributed to the increase in the prices of goods.


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