With the increase in price of a 450 g loaf of bread by three rupees with effect from Friday night, short eats, buns, pastries, kottu rotti, rotties, cakes and other eats made of wheat flour also would see a price increase this week, Bakery Owners’ Association president N.K.Jayawardena said.
He said that the decision to increase the price of bread from Rs. 42 to Rs. 45 is due to a number of reasons including imposition of the Nation Building Tax on wheat flour.
“The imposition of the Government’s three percent Nation Building Tax (NBT) is one of the main reasons for the increase. Both wheat flour importing companies Prima and Serendib have ceased giving discounts,” he said.
Mr. Jayawardena said that the increase in transport and labour costs have also led to the decision to increase the bread price.
“Although we have decided that only the price of a 450 g loaf of bread should be increased, prices of other wheat flour products will increase shortly. Therefore Government should consider bringing down the NBT,” he said.
According to the Bakery Owners Association, bakeries are experiencing a 25 percent drop in the sale of bread but an increase in sale of other eats made of wheat flour. |
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