Green chillies shot up to an unprecedented price of Rs. 700 a kilogram in certain areas in Colombo and the suburbs while prices of other vegetables also dramatically rose over the week.Traders at the Dambulla Economic Centre said there was a severe shortage of supplies of green chillies after heavy rains destroyed the cultivation. They said the shortage may continue for a month or two.
At Colombo’s Manning market where wholesale dealers bring in their supplies from the outstations, a kilogram of green chillies was selling at Rs. 400 while at the Dambulla wholesale market a kilo was priced at Rs. 370.
However, in other outlets and interior areas, the prices were higher.
The markets were also experiencing a severe short supply of vegetables due to the adverse weather with most of the crops being destroyed in the Nuwara Eliya and other plantation areas.
Most of the vegetables were selling at more than Rs. 100 a kilogram in Colombo with carrot at Rs. 180, leeks Rs. 110, beans Rs. 150, cabbage Rs. 100, beetroot Rs. 160, capsicum
Rs. 250 and brinjals Rs. 150.
Coconut prices have also increased with the average ranging from Rs. 60 to Rs. 75.
There were no immediate plans from the government to provide relief to affected vegetable cultivators, other than offering Rs. 10,000 as an allowance to encourage people to cultivate vegetable in their home gardens.
But Military spokesman Ubaya Medawala yesterday said the army would continue selling vegetables through its mobile outlets.
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