Sugar shortage sparks price surge; CAA urges complaints

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection  (NMCRP) claimed that there is a huge shortage of white sugar in  the local market.  
NMCRP head Ranjith Vithanage told the Daily Mirror that the shortage is due to the controlled price imposed on sugar.

  
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has issued a gazette  notification setting a maximum retail price (MRP) for sugar, with effect  from November 3.  
Despite the maximum retail price for white sugar, which is  Rs. 295, retail shops still sell a kilo of white sugar at Rs. 330 per  kilo.   Meanwhile, CAA chairman Shantha Niriella said that CAA  officials are still conducting raids to stop sugar being sold beyond the  retail price. 

 
“We are still checking the white sugar stocks at warehouses,” he said.  

Therefore, the CAA Chairman requested the consumers to  inform the authorities on the sale of white sugar beyond the controlled  price.  
According to the gazette notification, the maximum retail  price for unpacked white and brown sugar will be Rs. 275 and Rs. 300  per kilo, respectively. The maximum retail price for packaged white and  brown sugar will be Rs. 295 and Rs. 350, respectively.  

Recently, the President issued an order to raise the import  levy on sugar from 25 cents to Rs. 50 overnight, with effect from  November 4.