There are no stocks of potatoes, onions, salmon, soap, milk powder and other essential commodities, they say.

When contacted, industries and commerce deputy minister Champika Premadasa said all responsibilities of the ministry were taken over by the minister.

He said he would look into the shortage of consumer goods.

According to reports reaching Sri Lanka Mirror, the reason for this is that suppliers have halted making supplies as they had not been paid for the earlier supplies by the cash-strapped CWE.

Businessman Kiran Atapattu has failed to administer the CWE properly as its chairman and has given tenders to his friends.

He does not respect the orders of the minister either, as he has financed the formation of the present regime and has close connections with its top people.