Milk powder price hike under review: Min. Sec.
A request for the revision of milk powder prices by companies importing milk foods, will be considered soon, Trade Ministry Secretary, Susil S. Sirisena told the Sunday Times.
He said that companies importing milk powder have demanded an increase of Rs 35 per kg of milk powder saying that due to the devaluation of the rupees they have to pay more for their imports.
“The price committee of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) will hand over the proposal to the Minister, who would consider the price increase and the profit margin gained by the companies, and take a decision” he said
“However, he said that the price of infant milk powder is unlikely to change, even though other milk foods would go up in price,” he said.
Meanwhile, General Manager- Maliban Milk Products, D.L. Weerasuriya said that milk powder companies are incurring losses since transport costs and production costs have risen, but have yet to receive any response for their proposals and requests to increase the price of milk powder.
“All the milk powder companies tried to contact high officials of the Trade Ministry but were unsuccessful. The CAA is making excuses without considering our problems” he added.
- By Mirudhula Thambiah
