High consumer prices in Jaffna belie Govt. claims

By N. Parameshwaran

The Government Agent for Jaffna had told the media last week that all items were freely available in the Jaffna peninsula at prices prevailing in the rest of the country.

However, Jaffna residents have reportedly requested the GA to see the actual situation for himself. Though the GA fixed the maximum price of a bag of cement at Rs. 1200 it is selling in Jaffna between Rs. 700 and Rs. 1600, whereas the price in Colombo is Rs. 600.

The prices speak for themselves. Information Dept. Pix

All other items are selling at double the Colombo price or 50% higher than the Colombo price. Prices are cheaper now when compared to the prices at the end of last year and at beginning of this year, but they are still high.

Though the Government Agent has said that Jaffna products are sent to the South, that is only partly true. This year onion cultivators did not plant the crop extensively because they would be unable to market it. They cannot recover their investment as onions are selling in the Jaffna market between Rs. 10.00 to Rs. 15.00 per kilo with the traders purchasing the crop from farmers for Rs. 5.00 per kilo.

Milk powder, drugs and box of matches are available at Colombo prices or 10% higher.