GOVT. URGED TO INTRODUCE NATIONAL POLICY TO REGULATE PRICES

When gas, electricity and fuel prices fluctuate:

President of the National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection (NMCRP), Ranjith Vithanage yesterday urged the Government to introduce a national policy to regulate the prices of goods when gas, water, electricity and fuel prices fluctuate.

He said due to the recent Liquid Petroleum (LP) Gas increase, traders demand that they should increase the price of lunch packets, bread, tea and plain tea by Rs 10.

However, Mr. Vithanage said in a statement made by the Government Information Department, a spokesman from the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said the recent LP Gas increase is not a reason for Hoteliers and Canteen owners to increase food prices.

Although the CAA had said so, he said there is no control price affecting the mentioned goods, therefore the CAA’S statement was a contradictory and hilarious one. Mr. Vithanage said although the traders are not hesitant to increase the prices of goods when they go up, they never reduce when the price of good go down.

He questioned the CAA on what law it takes to stop price increase on lunch packets, bread, tea and plain tea as there are no control price on such goods.

Therefore, he urged the Government to introduce a national policy to regulate prices of goods when gas,water, electricity and fuel prices fluctuate as a means of reducing the inconvenience faced by the consumers.