June 09, Colombo: Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says that a proposal with the consent of the local poultry industry to control the increase in the price of chicken meat and reduce the current shortage of eggs will be submitted to the Cabinet next week.

The minister mentioned this during the discussion held at the Ministry of Agriculture today (09) with the industrialists involved in the poultry industry.

Although the government has given priority to protect the local poultry industry, the price of chicken meat has risen rapidly in the country. Also, the shortage of eggs has not been solved yet.

Therefore, the Minister stated that it is the government’s responsibility to protect the consumer as well as the nutritional conditions of the people of the country.

Therefore, the minister stated that the government has discussed imposing a maximum retail price to control the price of chicken meat and, if necessary, importing chicken meat from abroad.

Poultry producers said that although the price of chicken meat is currently around 1300 rupees, the price can be reduced to 1200 rupees within three months. The industrialists said that it is possible to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture to reduce the price.

However, the minister also mentioned that a report with information related to the decisions reached in this discussion will be submitted to the cabinet meeting next week.

The Minister also made a request to provide the benefits of increase in the value of the rupee against the dollar to the consumers.

Minister Amaraweera also mentioned that although the government has given necessary concessions to protect this industry, the consumers have not received the benefits.

Therefore, the government will take some tough decisions regarding the increase in the price of chicken meat and the shortage of eggs in the cabinet discussion next week, he said.

If necessary, measures will be taken to prevent the rise in the price of chicken meat on the basis of strict rules. Due to inclement weather these days, the fishing industry has been disrupted. Therefore, the demand for chicken meat has increased. The minister also said. Minister of State for Livestock D.B. Herath, Secretary of the Ministry Gunadasa Samarasinghe and others were present.