Panic buying triggers shortages at Sathosa

Some Lanka Sathosa outlets are currently experiencing temporary shortages of essential items, as recent stockpiling by the public has strained supplies. Distribution of stocks to outlets is now underway.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (9), Lanka Sathosa Marketing Manager Ishara Godamanna said that the escalation of the Middle East (ME) conflict had led to increased stockpiling of essentials, causing temporary shortages at Sathosa outlets. He assured that sufficient stocks are available and will soon be distributed to outlets. He noted that acquiring stocks for Lanka Sathosa is a prolonged process due to tender procedures, but that adequate provisions have been secured for the festive season. 

“Today (10) and tomorrow (11), we expect higher demand, and we have already started the distribution process to ensure that, by then, outlets have the necessary quantities,” he added.

Lanka Sathosa, the country’s largest State-owned retail chain, operates over 400 outlets nationwide and typically acts as a buffer against market price fluctuations. The recent ME conflict has disrupted global supply chains, leading to precautionary stockpiling by consumers, a pattern also observed during previous economic crises.

Efforts to reach the Retailers’ Association were unsuccessful.

source: The Morning