Sri Lanka, June 9 -- The government has decided to reduce the prices of 18 essential goods sold through Lanka Sathosa, the state-owned retail chain, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development said.

In a statement, the Ministry said the decision was taken to provide relief to the public amid rising global prices of goods and services, driven by the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the resulting global economic uncertainty.

Accordingly, from tomorrow (10), prices of 18 essential items sold through Lanka Sathosa will be reduced to levels lower than wholesale prices in Pettah, the statement said.

The list of price-reduced items includes big onions, white sugar, lentils, cowpea, chickpeas,...