COLOMBO (News 1st): The Cost of Living Committee has informed the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) NOT to increase the prices of essential items including food, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena said on Thursday (Jun. 10).

The decision was reached at a meeting of the Cost of Living Committee that convened under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on Wednesday evening (Jun. 09), Minister of Trade, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena told News 1st.

During the meeting, the Consumer Affairs Authority had sought permission to increase the prices of several essential food items.

However, the Consumer Affairs Authority was instructed to find other alternatives instead of increasing the prices of essential goods during difficult times, Minister Bandula Gunawardena emphasized.

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