News
Raids expose Dambulla onion mafia involved in price manipulation
View(s):
CAA officials conducting the raid
As sky-rocketing onion prices hit consumers this festive season, raids on warehouses in Dambulla on Thursday revealed that an organised group was hoarding large stocks of imported onions to make huge profits through price manipulation.
Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) officials who conducted the raid said they believed the stocks imported from Pakistan, Iran, and Türkiye were being hoarded and released during the festive season to markets around the country when prices were high.
Dambulla Economic Centre traders blamed the CAA for delaying the raids until onion prices reached sky-high.
Matale division CAA head Renuka Kumara said investigations were continuing to identify the culprits behind the racket.
Dambulla Economic Centre Secretary I.G. Wijenanda said the practices of some traders were bringing a bad name to the Economic Centre and urged tough action against such people.
All Island Farmers Federation National Organiser Namal Karunaratna said the racket was also destroying the local onion farmers, and the authorities should take action.
Pix and text by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!