Significant reduction in prices of essential items in Jaffna
COLOMBO: Prices of essential goods have come down dramatically in
Jaffna in the last week with the increased flow of goods to the
Peninsula by the efforts of the Govt. supported by the private sector.
Key item prices: Some goods have registered a 400 per cent drop in
prices. For example, a piece of soap that was being sold at Rs. 100 two
months ago, is now being retailed at Rs. 25. One kg of sugar that
fetched Rs. 330 is now being sold at Rs. 68. Milk powder that was priced
at Rs. 300 per packet is now only Rs. 170.
This remarkable outcome is due to the steady flow of goods into
Jaffna through ships chartered by the Government and lately by the
private sector.
Government-private sector initiative: Since mid-August 2006 following
the unprovoked LTTE attack at Muhamalai that forced the closure of A9
route, the Government has shipped over 92,000 tonnes of essential
supplies to Jaffna peninsula, according to latest figures available from
the Office of the Commissioner-General of Essential Services.
The tonnage shipped to Jaffna from Colombo will be further enhanced
with two thousand tonnes per week - being the contribution of the
private sector i.e. traders from Jaffna, under the facilitation of the
Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCISL).
Attack on ships supplying goods: The Government commitment to ensure
supplies and humanitarian assistance to people of Jaffna through
chartered ships, despite LTTE obstruction and acts of piracy.
One such ship i.e. cargo vessel ‘City of Liverpool’ came under
pre-meditated attacks of the LTTE on the 21st January, 2007, when the
ship was anchored just outside the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour after
unloading essential food supplies.
Comparison of the prices: A comparative study of prices of selected
number of goods over a two-month period. (Prices of goods as at 4th
February vis-a-vis goods as at 4th April, 2007) has revealed this
drastic fall in prices.
The detailed breakdown of this comparison is attached below:
* All values in Rupees and consumer price.
Items Qty Jaffna Consumer Jaffna Consumer
Prices (4th Feb.) Prices (4th April)
(Retail Price) (Retail Price)
Soap - Lux 1 unit 100.00 25.00
Sunlight 1 unit 100.00 24.00
Toothpaste (medium) 1 unit 55.00 48.00
Tooth Brush 1 unit 40.00 39.00
Margarine (100g) 1 pkt 150.00 75.00
Noodles 1 kg 42.00 28.00
Lentils 1 kg 83.00 70.00
Coconuts 1 unit 90.00 50.00
Sugar 1 kg 330.00 68.00
Milk powder 1 pkt 300.00 170.00
Wheat flour (kg) 1 kg 90.00 50.00
Eggs 1 unit 32.00 25.00
Bread (450 gr) 1 unit 30.00 32.00
Rice (samba) 1 kg 160.00 50.00
Potatoes 1 kg 120.00 85.00
Onions 1 kg 40.00 15.00
Brinjals 1 kg 150.00 20.00
Carrots 1 kg 100.00 40.00
Green gram 1 kg 240.00 135.00
Salt (kg) 1 kg 40.00 35.00
Box of matches 1 carton 50.00 30.00
Panadol (card) 1 card 35.00 30.00
Canned Fish (medium) 1 tin 165.00 140.00
Candles (medium) 1 unit 12.00 5.00
Mosquito coils 1 pkt 65.00 45.00
Dried red chillies 1 kg 450.00 140.00
Kerosene oil (litre) 1 litre 75.00 90.00
Coconut oil 1 ltr 450.00 150.00
Vegetable oil (litre) 1 ltr 450.00 150.00
Source: Jaffna prices from Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Yarlpanam and Local Monitor for SCOPP.
Colombo Prices - Retail Outlet.
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