Sri Lanka is already going through an unprecedented economic crisis. Meanwhile, people are being burdened more because the prices of food are increasing very much. Buying rice has become expensive in the island nation. The price of food items has risen to “unbearable levels”.
A report by Colombo Page, referring to consumers in Sri Lanka, said that the minimum price of one kg of rice in the general market has now increased by Rs 200-240.
The Sri Lankan government, which is facing a severe economic crisis, is now being forced to ban the import of many essential items including food items. Due to this the price of essential items like milk powder and rice has become very high.
The report further said that Satosa outlets in many parts of the country are short in supply of essential consumer goods including rice, dry chillies and other items.
Demand for President’s resignation intensified
On the other hand, as part of the ongoing anti-government protests demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, more than 10,000 people gathered at the ‘Galle Face Green’ park and demonstrated throughout the night.
Sri Lanka is going through its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. The countrymen have been demonstrating for several weeks in protest against several hours of power cuts, shortage of gas, food items and other essential commodities.
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From the day itself on Saturday, people from all sections of the society started gathering in Galle Face, the same place where the secretariat is located, and by evening the entire road was filled with protesters. Due to this there was also a traffic jam.
“We are still here,” one of the protesters said in a post on social media at 6 am on Sunday. Witnesses reported that a section of the demonstrators demonstrated throughout the night.
‘Go home gotta’
They were raising slogans like ‘Ghar Jaao Gota’ demanding the President’s resignation. “It’s not a joke. It’s here because we don’t have electricity, fuel and medicines,” a protester told the media. Another protester said, “They must go, they have no way out.”
It is worth noting that thousands of people have been protesting for several weeks demanding a solution to the crisis and the resignation of Rajapaksa for economic mismanagement.
US $ 14 billion loss
The president and his older brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, hold on to power despite their politically powerful family becoming the center of public outcry.
The government estimates that Sri Lanka’s tourism-dependent economy has suffered a loss of US$14 billion over the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government is scheduled to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on April 11 for financial assistance.