Losing no time whatsoever after its essential price control announcement, Sri Lanka swiftly moved to call its trade officials abroad on 14 July.

Opening a new chapter in Lankan international trade, Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen launched a Skype based teleconference session with his Trade Officials abroad (TOs) on 14 July morning and began evaluating their performance.

During the session, Minister Bathiudeen Skype-dialled his trade officials around the world to inquire latest prices of FMCG commodities and the investment promotion efforts of TOs. Minister Bathiudeen was joined by his top Ministry officials including Secretary TMKB Thennakoon and Sonali Wijeratne (DG-DoC).

The successful Skype teleconferencing linked 13 key destinations in 12 countries–China (Beijing), India (Mumbai, Chennai), Viet Nam (Hanoi), Japan (Tokyo), Australia (Sydney), Pakistan (Karachchi), South Korea (Seoul) Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Dubai, South Africa (Pretoria), Singapore, and Thailand (Bangkok).

Minister Bathiudeen also ordered the TOs to study their respective FMCG markets, find essential consumer item prices and get back to the DoC with details.

The technology based session was entirely initiated by the IT Division of Ministry of Industry and Commerce joined by Ministry’s Department of Commerce.

Control prices of 16 essential items were announced by the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen today 14 July morning. The Gazette is expected tomorrow 15 July-prices are effective immediately.