Government Set to Import Vegetables for Next Two Months Until Situation Improves

 Due to the direct impact of the adverse weather conditions that prevailed across the island in recent days, many vegetable cultivation lands in the country have been destroyed, leading to a severe shortage of vegetables in the market. According to market sources, consumers are forced to pay very high prices for the limited vegetable stocks available.

As a short-term solution to this crisis and to ensure the sustenance of the tourism industry, the government is focusing on importing vegetables from foreign countries. Accordingly, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development has decided to import vegetables for a period of two months, specifically to meet the needs of the tourism and hotel sectors.

Essential Services Commissioner General B.K. Prabath Chandrakirthi stated that steps would be taken to import frozen vegetables in accordance with the standards recommended by the Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, information has been observed that some traders are inconveniencing consumers by unduly exploiting the current disaster situation and commodity shortages. The Commissioner General emphasized that strict legal action would be taken against any business or individual employing deceptive trade tactics such as unnecessarily hoarding and concealing goods, or selling them at exorbitant prices.

Furthermore, a special program is being implemented through District Secretaries to identify essential food items and goods for the public during this disaster situation. He further stated that steps would be taken to publicize the relevant lists of goods through the media and to inform suppliers about them.