• No shortage risk: Agriculture Ministry

Despite a notable rise in vegetable prices across key markets due to limited supply, the Ministry of Agriculture assures that there is no imminent risk of a shortage.

As the country emerges from the Avurudu festive season, the heightened demand for ingredients used in traditional meals has begun to ease. 

However, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne told The Sunday Morning that demand was expected to surge again with the upcoming Vesak Poya Day, as preparations for religious observances and charitable ‘dansal’ stalls get underway.

“While demand may increase again, we might also see a slight dip in vegetable supply,” Karunaratne explained.

He attributed this to many farmers shifting the focus to paddy harvesting, supported by increased rainfall and improved water levels in irrigation tanks across the island.

According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL) Daily Price Report dated Thursday (17), several staple vegetables experienced price hikes, primarily due to constrained supply.

In the Pettah and Dambulla markets, the price of beans rose to Rs. 320 and Rs. 365 per kg, respectively. Carrots also saw a sharp increase, reaching Rs. 170 per kg in Pettah and a significant Rs. 325 in Dambulla, attributed to reduced supply from Nuwara Eliya.

Similarly, cabbage prices climbed to Rs. 130 per kg in Pettah and Rs. 135 in Dambulla. The price of local red onions in Dambulla also rose to Rs. 295 per kg, while local potatoes were priced at Rs. 238 per kg.

The CBSL report highlighted that these changes represented more than a 5% increase compared to the previous day, underscoring how even short-term supply shifts could significantly impact retail prices.