“As soon as the commemoration of the International Workers’ Day was over the government has commenced increasing prices of commodities. A cylinder of LP gas has been increased by Rs.350/= and a bag of cement by Rs.70/=. A packet of 400 gram milk powder has been increased by Rs.61/= while a packet of a kilo gram has been increased by Rs.163/=. The price of milk powder went up due to a 15% tax the government imposed on it. The government that destroys the local dairy farming by not having a programme to buy milk produced by dairy farmers making dairy farmers spill their milk on the roads, imposes high taxes on imported milk powder which results in increased prices.
The government increases the prices of milk powder, gas and cement when masses are already burdened with the increase in prices of fuel, bus fares, electricity tariff and the increase in the price of what flour. The government that brags of a so-called economic development by resorting to statistical jugglery burdens the masses by increasing prices of commodities indicating the seriousness of the crisis it has dragged the country to. While imposing taxes on essential commodities to grab the meager amount masses earn with hard labour, the government drags the country towards the abyss of debt by wasting public money on extravagant pageants. The Rajapaksa regime does not act as a government that is responsible for the masses but as a despotic, vicious gang of marauders.
It has been confirmed that nothing more could be expected from the present government that follows neo-liberalist policy, depreciates the rupee and slashes relief to the masses on advice from imperialism and the IMF. These are really the results of the economic crisis the country is confronted with. Hence, what needs to be done now is for the masses to come forward to change the administration that increases the prices of essential commodities to burden and bring suffering to them together with the bankrupt capitalist system that nurtures it.
We demand the government to take immediate measures to bring down the increased prices of all commodities including gas, milk powder and cement and call upon the Sri Lankan people to rally to defeat the present regime that burdens the masses, that has dragged the country socially, politically and economically towards an abyss and the bankrupt capitalist system that nurtures it. We call upon the masses to come forward to create a new society.”
