Sri Lanka’s suffering poor citizens are surviving on just one meal a day, on account of the soaring prices of essential goods.
In the open market a kilo of sweet potatoes is Rs. 80, garlic is Rs. 230, and sugar Rs. 100. The CWE sells rotten potatoes and Bombay onions at prohibitive prices. Salt manufactured in Sri Lanka costs Rs. 40 for a 400-gram pack. Rice, akin to the Chinese Itihal is sold at between Rs. 60 and Rs. 63 a kilo.
Samba is not available at the CWE outlets but is sold by private traders at between Rs. 98 and Rs. 124.50 a kilo. However, Basmathi rice is freely available in the open market. Does the government expect the ordinary man to purchase Basmathi rice with his meagre earnings?
S. Peter,
Mount Lavinia |
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