Sri Lanka, June 9 -- The National Consumers' Front chairman, Asela Sampath, today urged the government to immediately impose a controlled price on surgical face masks and hand sanitisers as the country faces a fresh critical situation.

Addressing a media briefing, Sampath demanded the price of a surgical face mask be brought down to Rs.10, pointing out that current market prices have skyrocketed to Rs.50 per mask.

Manufacturers have cited increased costs of raw materials as the reason for the price hike.

However, Sampath stressed that it is the responsibility of the government to intervene without delay.

"If the government does not reduce the prices of raw materials used to produce these essential items, the public will be forced to...