The prices of vegetables have experienced a significant spike in several economic centers this week, raising concerns among both consumers and traders.
At the Dambulla Economic Center today (29), wholesale prices for key vegetables have risen sharply. A kilogram of beans is now priced between Rs. 350 and Rs. 400, while the cost of a kilogram of green chilies has soared to between Rs. 800 and Rs. 900.
Other vegetables, including carrots, leeks, and tomatoes, have also seen price increases.
Retailers in local markets have confirmed a marked surge in the prices of both upcountry and lowland vegetables. The price of a kilogram of pumpkin, which was previously Rs. 160, now ranges from Rs. 300 to Rs. 400.
The retail price of most vegetables currently fluctuates between Rs. 500 and Rs. 800 per kilogram. Specific items such as green chilies are being sold for Rs. 1,400 per kilogram, black chilies for Rs. 1,500, and tomatoes for Rs. 600 to Rs. 800 per kilogram.
While vegetable prices typically rise following the Christmas season, traders remain hopeful that the prices may stabilize and decrease in the early weeks of the New Year as vegetable supply improves.
