Pre-election panic buying in country’s main vegetable market in Peliyagoda

Secretary Manning Market Traders Association Saminda Peiris at the market.   Pic by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

By Yohan Perera   

Panic buying was reported at Manning Market in Peliyagoda yesterday during the eve of the presidential poll 2024 with people hurriedly buying stuff such as vegetables sufficient enough in anticipation of disruption to normalcy in the post-election period.   

Secretary to the Manning Market Traders’ Association Saminda Peiris told Daily Mirror that there was panic buying of vegetables at the market during the morning, while things settled by afternoon.   

“What we experienced today is such a situation where people bought essential vegetables fearing that there could be violent incidents and curfew,” Peiris said.   

“However, a notice stating that the market would be closed on Sunday, September 22 also contributed to heavy buying to some extent. The decision to close the market on Sunday was made with the anticipation that people will be more engaged in the election-related affairs rather than buying their essentials,” he said.  “Market is closed only on Poya days. People come in numbers to purchase vegetables, even on Saturdays and Sundays. Today we witnessed heavy buying as people seemed to be concerned about the election and they were less likely to turn up to the market this weekend, “ he said indicating that the Presidential Election contributed to a greater extent for panic buying.   

However, there was no huge price increase in vegetables, though there was panic buying according to Peiris. “Price of Green Chilies were selling at Rs 200 a kilogram, Brinjals at Rs 100, carrots at Rs 140, Snake Gourd Rs 180 and ladies fingers at Rs 150.   

Speaking of the heavy traffic block which was witnessed yesterday, Peiris said the existence of a single entrance to the vegetable and fish market.” Vehicles which come towards the fish market and the vegetable market have to use the same entrance. This therefore creates traffic congestion. We have requested the police to set up a police post to control traffic at the entrance, but it does not happen in the desired manner,” he said.