Vasu wants govt to help 60 per cent of Lankans reeling from high inflation

By Saman Indrajith

The government must do something to help 60 percent of Sri Lankans badly affected by high inflation, dissident SLPP MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara said.He said that several international agencies had claimed that 60 percent of Sri Lankans were skipping meals.

“The food inflation is around 90 percent. People are losing jobs and small and medium enterprises are warning that millions will lose jobs. Out of the people who can’t make ends meet due to the rising cost of living, only a small number of people get Samurdhi relief. Most people receive no relief at all, and everyone accepts that Sri Lanka does not have a food social safety net,” he said.

MP Nanayakkara asked the government how it would prevent a possible humanitarian catastrophe.

“Those who support the IMF way of doing things believe that all goods and services must be sold at market prices. They believe that everyone must buy goods and services at market prices. Let’s for a moment ignore that market prices are not natural and that they are set by powerful interest groups. The proponents of the IMF say that the government must make direct cash handouts to those who can’t afford market prices. Okay, who can we find the money?” he asked.MP Nanayakkara said that the increase in the price of kerosene and electricity would have a serious impact on nutrition and education.