All Island Canteen Owners’ Association call on authorities to stabilise wheat flour prices, end mafia

• AICOA President Asela Sampath claims ad-hoc price hikes impact consumers, businesses
• Expresses shock and disgust towards extra-large companies taking advantage of economic crisis to maximise profits
• Points to every raise in household budget have become intolerable to majority 
• Says weakened economic conditions impacted small eateries, canteens, its related industries severely

The All Island Canteen Owners’ Association (AICOA) yesterday called on the authorities to step in immediately to stabilise the wheat flour price and bring the mafia involved to an end. 

“Wheat flour is considered a staple ingredient among low-income families and small businesses. The retail price of a kilo of wheat flour has increased to a maximum of Rs. 240 now. This unreasonable price hike of wheat flour is unbearable for the majority of the people and we urge the authorities’ intervention immediately,” AICOA President Asela Sampath told the Daily FT.

Calling on Trade Ministry’s intervention to stabilise the price, and bring down the wheat flour mafia impacting consumers and businesses on a continuous basis. 

Although the duty of the Government is to manage the economy and act against institutions and industries that have continued to burden the consumers for long years, he claimed that the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has been dragging its feet on this matter.

“It is shocking and disgusting to learn how these extra-large companies are maximising their profits by taking advantage of the economic situation. With the sudden increase in prices, it is suspicious who gets the commission,” he claimed.

At a time when people are reeling under the cost of living and battered by the impacts of the economic crisis, he emphasised every raise in the household budget has become intolerable to the majority of Sri Lankans.

Noting that the weakened economic conditions have also impacted the small eateries, canteens and related industries severely, he said already around 50% of them have closed down. 

“Canteens and small eateries that were operated by families have closed down now, as they could not absorb the never-ending challenges. The closure of the small eateries has directly impacted all low-income earners in our society. Only the business models that are more formal are continuing as they are financially bound by credit facilities,” he explained. 

Although the price of wheat flour and other commodities like potatoes and onions has increased, the price of canteen products has not been increased accordingly as they are more humane than many who try to make the best out of the crisis situation.

Most of the customers that patronise the canteens are drivers of Government organisations, labourers, janitors, ambulance drivers, patients coming to monthly clinics, people looking after patients and low-income earners. 

“It is unfortunate that not only our businesses are deteriorating, but also the purchasing power of people and their health. After all, we are also part of this community,” Sampath pointed out.