2014-06-05 වන දින පාර්ලිමේන්තු කතාව Consumers Milked by Govt. By Charundi Panagoda Sunday Times 10/06/2014 The Government faces heavy criticism of making money at the expense of the local consumer after reducing a tax concession given for imported milk powder. The concession was reduced by Rs. 25 effective from last Monday because the global market prices have “rapidly plunged,” the Ministry of Finance and Planning stated. The actual tariff is Rs. 125, out of which the importers will now pay Rs. 82. This concession was given after the Ministry increased the retail prices of powdered milk, given to protect importers from rising global market prices. This concession reduction is the latest development in a series of price control controversies for imported milk, an industry that has, for the past several years, been plagued with a chemical contamination crisis, artificially-induced shortages and unsettling fluctuations in international prices. Critics of the price control measures adopted by the Finance Ministry and Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) charge that the Government is giving concessions to the importers at the expense of the people who depend heavily on imported milk powder. “What is the logic behind decreasing the concession all of a sudden by Rs. 25 anyway?” asks former JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake. “These importers profit heavily from global price declines. They form sister companies and receive lots more concessions doing transactions.” “These [concessions and price increases] are unjust economic practices,” he charged. “They don’t produce the effects the Government says they do. The only change that happens is the Treasury gets another Rs. 25. The ordinary consumer carries the burden.” sundaytimes.lk/140608/news/consumers-milked-by-govt-102784.html
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 15:49:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015