How come the government has still not provided any relief to the poor, even after gaining overwhelming victories at the two recent elections?
Now that the President has a massive mandate from the people of Sri Lanka and can stay in office for another six years, has he forgotten his promises in the second phase of the Mahinda Chinthanaya Idri Dekma?
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| Vegetable prices beyond the reach of poor people |
Instead of slashing prices and giving the poor some form of financial relief, the government is raising the prices of consumer goods, and the prices are going up daily.
Gas has gone up by Rs. 315; a kilogram of flour has gone up by Rs. 3, and milk foods have gone up by Rs. 100 a kilo.
Flour has gone up by Rs 10 per kilo and bread by Rs. 4 per loaf.
Vegetable prices are also soaring.
The Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs is silent.
Meanwhile, the taxes on luxury vehicles have come down.
It is a bit odd that the state should give relief to those with money to buy luxuries, while the working class and the poor continue to suffer.
Wage earners were promised a salary increase of Rs. 2,500 a month, starting in January.
Government servants are still waiting for this salary increase.
The trade unions that are usually very vocal about pay hikes seem to be sleeping.
There will be a local government poll shortly, and the Ministers and party organisers will be wooing the public for their votes. If the government continues to impose burdens on the people, it will fast become unpopular and eventually suffer defeat.
How much longer does the government expect to capitalise on its war victory to attract votes and win elections? This may be the government’s last chance to woo the masses. When it should be finding ways to make life less of a burden for the average person, the government is busy drafting a new Constitution to allow it to extend the President’s tenure of office indefinitely.
This is a golden opportunity for the Opposition to reorganise itself and fight back.
Z. A. M. Shukoor,
Aranayake |
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