People suffer due to ‘high cost of living’

- Virakesari Editorial

(September 05, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Price of cooking gas has been increased by Rs 126 per cylinder. Price is increased to Rs 1863 from Rs 1737. This increase of gas price is the 6th instant within a shot period of time. As a result, consumers are worried and they wonder how to cope up with the cost of living.

Since the prices of food items have increased more than ever before. People are unable to cope up with their expenses. On the other side, value of the Sri Lankan rupees is declining.

Every time there is a price hike, the government is trying to justify the price increase by saying that there is a corresponding rise in the international market.

Meanwhile, Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Consumer Affairs, has said that if he had not been the minister, the price of Gas cylinder would have exceeded Rs 2000. He has also said that price of the cooking gas is likely to fall by the end of the year.

UNP has hit back the Minister on this issue. It has accused that even the prices of gas and crude oil have dropped in the international market and therefore the price hike in Sri Lanka is unjustifiable.

“ We said that prices will increase after the provincial council election. Now, as we predicted the prices are increasing. The cause of increase is not the international market. The causes are the government’s corruption”, the UNP has explained.

On the other hand, people, who were displaced due to the military operations, are facing many problems. The economy of the people in the north is affected badly.

In the backdrop of the war, prices of goods have been increasing many times. As a result, the people have lost their purchasing power and have to depend on aid.

The soaring prices of goods can be controlled and economy can be improved only if peace is established. Attempting to justify the price hike making the international market as a scapegoat will not be appropriate at any time.

(An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo) - Sri Lanka Guardian