Sri Lanka, Nov. 6 -- Prices of 40 varieties of goods that are most frequently purchased by consumers has reduced by 19 percent in October this year when compared to October last year, Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said yesterday.

He said it was identified that prices of 15 varieties of goods had increased by 9.5 percent in October this year in comparison to October last year.

The Minister told the media that the government has identified goods most frequently purchased by consumers and taken steps to reduce prices of such goods.

He said if 55 to 60 varieties of goods were considered as most frequently purchased goods, the price reduction is recorded as 19 percent.

The Ministe...