Powdered milk and wheat flour prices to remain unchanged until New Year

The Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development has confirmed that the prices of imported powdered milk and wheat flour in Sri Lanka will not increase before the New Year. This announcement came after a meeting today (23) between Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe and representatives from powdered milk importers and wheat flour companies. The discussions focused on the effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on supply chains and ensuring steady distribution. During the meeting, the companies assured the Minister that they would keep prices stable. A statement from the Ministry noted that, despite rising fuel costs and the stronger US Dollar affecting production, these companies aim to collaborate with the government to ease the burden on consumers during this tough time. They also confirmed that there are enough stocks of imported powdered milk and wheat flour to last for the next three months, with no price hikes expected until after the New Year season. Additionally, the companies mentioned that limits on fuel availability have impacted their distribution efforts. The Minister encouraged them to join a special data collection initiative aimed at understanding the fuel needs of transport services that deliver food.