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No drop in bread prices possible: Bakery Owners

24 Oct 2022

By Dinitha Rathnayake The Lanka Bakery Owners’ Association has claimed that false prices of wheat flour are being claimed in order to force a reduction in the price of a loaf of bread. Speaking to The Morning, Lanka Bakery Owners’ Association Chairman N.K. Jayawardena said the current price of one kilogram of wheat flour is around Rs. 320, although some individuals, referring to low-quality bakery products, are trying to show a sharp decrease in flour prices and blame the association for not decreasing the price of bread accordingly. “We only use high-quality wheat flour and purchase it directly from companies at a price of Rs. 320. Even low-quality flour costs around Rs. 280 per kg. We increased the price of bread when the price of wheat flour was Rs. 270 a kilogram, which is the current price. In this context, we are unable to reduce the price of bread.” He also claimed earlier that the price of a loaf of bread will be Rs. 300, adding that the price was determined alongside the rapid increase in wheat flour prices. Jayawardena further pointed out that more than 2,000 bakeries across the country have closed down amidst a shortage of wheat flour. Meanwhile, the wholesale price of wheat flour has been reduced by Rs. 85, the Essential Food Commodity Importers and Traders Association announced on 14 October, with the wholesale price of wheat flour reduced from Rs. 375 per kg to Rs. 290 per kg. However, Sri Lanka’s primary wheat flour suppliers are yet to announce price revisions to their wheat flour products.


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