By Sandun A Jayasekera

The government has reasons to believe that an organized gang also controls the domestic vegetable market similar to that of the rice mafia, Plantations Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said. 

He told the media that the negative scenario that has severely affected the hapless consumer around the country clearly manifested from the sharp drop of vegetable prices a few days ago from exorbitant prices a fortnight ago that dominated the local vegetable market.

It is difficult to accept the theory that the unavailability of fertilizer - organic or chemical - was the root cause for the collapse of the domestic vegetable market as, within a couple of days, the market was dumped with huge stocks of vegetables bringing down the prices. This indicates a manipulation of the vegetable market by interested parties or individuals,” Minister Pathirana stressed. 

• A kilogram of rice is available at Rs. 98 now at the CWE stalls