30 January 2021 12:00 am Views - 199
By Sheain Fernandopulle
The wholesale and retail prices of several varieties of commonly used vegetables have considerably increased due to low supply of vegetables, economic centres said.
According to managers at Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya, Pettah and Narahenpita Economic Centres, the substantial decrease in the supply of vegetables had compelled them to increase prices.
Nuwara Eliya Economic Centre Manager R. M. Bandara said that the prices of most of the vegetables had increased by 100 per cent.
“There has been a poor supply from farmers in the recent past. The reason for this is quite blurred. The common reason is the bad weather conditions. However, the reason can’t be fully attributed to bad weather because showers are now over,” he said.
“It is not something new for vegetable prices to go up in the aftermath of torrential rains, Bandara added.
He said it would take a few weeks for the situation to return to normal.
It is reported that the number of vehicles carrying vegetables arriving at the Dambulla Economic Centre had declined by 70 per cent resulting in low supply and higher demand and thus the increase in prices.