News
Scrapping of sugar price control heralds bitter Avurudu for sweetmeat makers
View(s):
Traditional sweetmeats going at high prices with the Govt's move to remove the price control on sugar. Pic by Indika Handuwala
The Government’s move to remove the price control on sugar has triggered an increase in the price of sugar based products, with the biggest impact being felt by those in the sweetmeats industry ahead of the upcoming Sinhala – Tamil New Year.
The retail price started to show an increase by as much as Rs 17 a kilo in some shops following last week’s move by the Finance Minister to do away with the price control.
Some of the well known manufacturers of traditional sweetmeats at Padiliyatuduwa, Doowa junction in Kiribathgoda (from the area known as Kavum gamaga) said they would find it difficult in the upcoming season.
A.I Rani popular for her kavum, kokis and Athiressa said this year they have received far less orders than in previous years with customers complaining their prices were too high.
“Some of our traditional customers have cancelled their orders.This is all due to the Government removing the control on the price of sugar and allowing vendors to decide the price,” she said.
Dinusha Dushyanthi also from the same area said they are now compelled to sell Kawum, Kokis and Aluwa for Rs 20 while earlier they sold them at Rs 14 or 15.
“Sugar naturally is integral to our products. We can’t use less as that will affect the taste and we can’t make them smaller in size as people will stop buying from us,” she said.
An owner of two large scale sweet shops at Pettah market Sriyani said they try to make at least a five rupee profit from each product. But this time they won’t be able to do so she said. She also said orders were not coming their way this avurudu season. They usually satrted getting orders from the beginning of March.
Another sweet house manager M.R. I Mohamed said he too was facing hard times. Even the fizzy drinks have gone up in price, he complained.