President Gotabaya Rajapaksa emphasised that appropriate measures will be taken to reduce the cost of living by implementing the decisions already taken while adhering to a consistent policy without moving backwards. While noting that the prices of several consumer goods including turmeric have risen due to the decisions taken to uplift the local agricultural industry and the farming community, President Rajapaksa pointed out that if turmeric and other commodities are imported to control or bring down the prices, the desired objective will never be achieved. The President made these remarks at the first meeting of the Cabinet Subcommittee on Cost of Living held at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (31), the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated. He stated that even though the public is faced with difficulties for a short period of time, measures that have been taken to strengthen the rural economy and uplift the farming community cannot be reversed. During the meeting, the impact of the rise in prices of several essential commodities on the economy of the urban middle class was discussed in detail. “In order to earn a stable and strong income for the rural farmers who make up about 40% of the population, we need to develop confidence that they would get a high price for their produce and assure a stable market for them.” The President went on to say that without taking such measures, rural communities cannot be encouraged to engage themselves in the agricultural sector, also pointing out the difficulty of removing the existing import restrictions. He in order to control the foreign exchange parity rates and to get rid of high debt burden on farmers, imports should be restricted. The President further pointed out that countries such as India and the US have also imposed import restrictions in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. “The programme to offer job opportunities to eradicate poverty is expected to uplift the economy of the underprivileged. Samurdhi beneficiaries will have to contribute by looking after themselves. Their living condition and nutritional levels could be elevated through home gardening and providing hens and eggs for poultry farming.” President Rajapaksa then highlighted the need for proper procedures to address the issues faced by the middle class in the suburbs due to inflation. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government took steps to deliver the farm produce directly to the consumers at a subsidised price. He noted that continuing this practice would remove the middlemen and their exploitation and protect both the farmer and the consumer. Moreover, in order to accomplish it and deliver farmers’ produce straight to the consumers, it was also discussed to utilise government institutes such as Sathosa, Co-op, Govijana Seva Centres, and security forces. Revamping the islandwide network of Economic Centres and the implementation of a proper system to purchase farmers’ produce had also been taken into the consideration by the Cabinet Subcommittee on Cost of Living. Furthermore, the President had advised the relevant officials to update him once a week on the market status. Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival Head Basil Rajapaksa stated that it was necessary to ascertain the amount of food consumed by an individual in the district and national levels, addeding that divisional secretariats should promote home gardening and poultry farming in areas under their jurisdiction. Officials noted that due to the success of cowpea, undhu, peanuts, sesame, kurakkan, and onion farming, these items will not have to be imported in the future. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa; Ministers Dr. Bandula Gunawardana, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, and Mahindananda Aluthgamage; State Ministers Arundika Fernando, Shasheendra Rajapaksa, and Lasantha Alagiyawanna; Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera; secretaries to the respective ministries; and other officials were present at the discussion.