By Ajith Siriwardana   

Claiming that they have never made unreasonable increases in confectionery items such as biscuits, Lanka Confectionery Manufacturers Association said certain elements were spreading false propaganda on social media with the aim of destroying the confectionery industry.  

Its Chairman Suriya Kumara told a news conference that they would take legal action against those who spread such false propaganda.  

He said that the price of its products has not been Increased compared to the increase in the price of raw materials, and that the price increases in its industry, which consists of 100 percent local entrepreneurs, have been done in such a way that the profit is very minimal. Executive director of the Association Ashoka Bandara said the price of raw materials used in the production of sweets mainly wheat flour, vegetable oil and sugar have increased by almost two hundred percent over the last few months.

He said unless the prices of their products were not increased in line with the increase in raw materials, they could not continue the business. “The price of a kilo of wheat flour, which is the main ingredient used In the production of sweets, has increased by 277 percent from 77 rupees to 290 rupees. The price of a kilo of sugar has increased by 180 percent from 114 rupees to 320 rupees, and the price of vegetable oil has increased by 195 percent from 475 rupees to 1400 rupees. But compared to that, the price of biscuits has been increased by only 171 percent from 100 rupees to 271 rupees, he said. The Association said that if the factories are closed, 50,000 direct jobs and 500,000 Indirect jobs may be lost, not only the workers but also their dependents will be in a desperate situation. They said at present, more than 20,000 farmers are in direct contact with the confectionary manufacturers and supply their products and if there is any impact on this industry, they too will not be able to sell their products. “With this economic crisis, we felt its pressure and impact.

Therefore, we wanted to somehow maintain these industries without closing them down. That is why some amount was increased. All the other products are now being increased massively. However, we have never made unreasonable increases,” they said. The Association requested the President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and all other ministers to provide the necessary support to maintain these industries without allowing them to collapse.

• The price of a kilo of sugar has increased by 180 percent from 114 rupees to 320 rupees