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A maximum retail price of Rs. 15 for nonwoven disposable surgical face masks and Rs. 150 for N95-type face masks was set by the Government yesterday following the increased demand for them as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus.
Due to the sudden imbalance between supply and demand, the price of face masks was greatly increased. A statement issued yesterday by the Health and Indigenous Medicine Services Ministry stated the price controls were imposed by the Ministry in response to this.
The statement added that measures are being implemented to take legal action against those who do not follow the above price controls or retailers that stock up on face masks instead of selling them.
In addition to this, at a press briefing held yesterday, Cabinet Spokesperson, Higher Education Minister, and Acting Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana said the Government was yet to ask the public to wear face masks.
“Even in a situation like this, there are some with an intention of making a profit who are selling face masks for exorbitant prices and saying it is mandatory for students to wear them.”
He emphasised that there was currently no need to wear face masks and that if such a need arises, the Health and Indigenous Medicine Services Ministry will inform the Government and the public.
Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) representative Dr. Samantha Ananda, who also spoke at the press briefing, said that influenza patients may have been advised by healthcare professionals to wear a face mask in order to prevent the spread of influenza in Sri Lanka.
“It is important for people with colds and coughs to wear a face mask but that is advice given to influenza patients and not for coronavirus,” he said.
