Restaurant owners want price controls for big onions and potatoes

The Association of Sri Lanka Restaurant Owners (AOSRO) yesterday charged that middlemen engaged in the vegetable transportation industry were manipulating potato and big onion prices despite tax reductions by the Government.

The Government reduced taxes by Rs. 50 a kilogram on imported potatoes in December as well as cutting import taxes on big onions to provide relief to the public.

In a statement, AOSRO said the wholesale price of potatoes and big onions reduced in the market following the tax reduction. However, in comparison to wholesale prices, retail prices had not reduced.

“Potato and big onion prices came down due to tax reductions. Despite this reduction, retail prices remain high due to manipulation by middlemen. These middlemen earn unfair profits,” it said.

AOSRO said that due to the higher prices of big onions and potatoes, consumers were unable to fulfil their nutrition needs and called on the authorities to take measures to control the retail price of big onions and potatoes.