Traders in the Dambulla Economic Centre have been importing large quantities of potatoes and big onions, without dollars, from India and Pakistan, from January 5 following the removal of taxes.
Potato and onion importers say prices have fallen because of tax breaks.
They also say that they have imported these vegetables on loans from foreign traders. The wholesale price of a kilo of big onions imported from Pakistan and India was Rs. 90 to Rs. 120 and the wholesale price of a kilo of potatoes imported from India and Pakistan was Rs. 140 to Rs. 170, traders said.
With the removal of the import duty, potatoes and big onions could be seen being unloaded in large containers in front of wholesale shops adjacent to the Dambulla Economic Centre, yesterday.
In addition, large quantities of essential food items such as ponni and nadu rice, dhal and garlic were also available at the Dambulla Economic Centre wholesale outlets.
Traders said tha t a kilo of dhal sells for between Rs. 245 and Rs. 250 rupees, while a kilo of ponni or nadu rice sells for Rs. 125 and a kilo of garlic for Rs. 370.
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