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Public lament the skyrocketing prices

04 Sep 2021

By Yumiko Perera The economy is reeling from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and for the common man, every day is nothing short of a struggle. Whilst the multiple lockdowns over the past year have contributed towards the increase in the cost of living, it is now a fight for survival for most. The Sunday Morning reached out to several individuals for their perspectives on the matter at hand. === Have to spend twice as much as before Malini Senevirathne, 52, homemaker Everything is so expensive nowadays and as the days go by, things only seem to be getting worse. I spend twice as much on the same amount of groceries. The Government needs to think twice before enforcing policy decisions that impact the masses, as the majority of people in our country are not well off like those who are in Parliament. -- Prices of essentials through the roof Bhagya Senanayake, 25, entrepreneur The pandemic hasn’t been easy on anyone and the economic difficulties are felt now more so than ever. The prices of essential items are through the roof and the daily wage earners are barely getting by. The Rs. 2,000 that is being handed out to families with low incomes is almost comical.  The Government should be more focused on limiting the imports of certain goods and getting the exports back on track. -- Major decline in purchasing power Sameera Rodrigo, 19, student If you look at the prices of vegetables, pulses, and other essential commodities, even those with a steady flow of income would have a hard time purchasing these, and in recent years, there has been a significant decline in purchasing power.  -- Daily wagers most affected Nihal Peiris, 64, retired teacher Unfortunately, the country is yet to find a mechanism that controls the prices for essential goods, due to which those who earn daily wages are the most affected. At this point, most people have their backs against the wall, and there simply is no coping with it; people are merely putting up with it because they have no other option but to tighten their belts. -- Country must open for businesses Dushan Silva, 29, entrepreneur So many businesses have taken a hit because of the coronavirus, and the raw material required for production has also increased. This seems to be the case with so many different industries. People are barely surviving and so many are struggling to make ends meet. I believe small businesses staying afloat is very important and the country needs to open soon in order for the businesses to flourish once again, or there would be severe consequences to the economy. -- Everything is uncertain Sampath Alahakoon, 29, three-wheeler driver I had to sell my three-wheeler because I couldn’t pay the lease, as the first lockdown lasted nearly three months and I had no income. I now rent a friend’s three-wheeler for the day, but it isn’t a very economical option. Everything is so uncertain, with the lockdowns being imposed every other month, and what little I have saved is not going to last my family and me for very long. It’s impossible to survive without a steady income. Opening the country, only way out -- Senesh De Silva, 22, law student The cost of living in the country has always been a problem, and the pandemic has only aggravated it. Back then, people at least had the chance to go out and find a way of living, but there are limitations to that now. I suppose the only way out – or rather, our best shot – is to make sure the country opens up again; however, that can only be done if we manage to get some sort of control over the virus.


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