Price of bread to increased

Colombo (News 1st) - The price of a 450g loaf of bread is set to increase by Rs 5 with effect from midnight tonight. The price increase was announced by the Chairman of the All Ceylon Bakery Owners Association, N. K. Jayawardene. K.N. Jayawardena,  Chairman of the All Island Bakery Owners' Association: "On the 15th of this month prices of flour were increased by Rs 8.41. But since the election was scheduled to be held the next day Minister Mangala Samaraweera threatened these companies and temporarily halted the increase. But those flour companies increased the prices again on the day of the election, the 16th of November. Today is the 20th, the bakery owners in the country had to purchase flour at a higher price since the 16th. We were waiting until they reduced this again. We took a great effort to reduce this, but we couldn't. We spoke with the Consumer Affairs Authority yesterday (November 19).  They said that they will conduct raids because this is an illegal move. But no matter how many places they raid we still have to purchase flour at a higher price. Yesterday the company Prima sent us an e-mail that the prices of flour have been increased. We ask all the concerned parties to hold discussions and solve this issue. So even unwillingly we will have to increase the price of a 450g loaf of bread by Rs 5 from midnight today. We must also say that we will only be increasing the price of bread. The union will not increase the prices of other small fast food."

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