The cost of living -Who’s fooling whom? - EDITORIAL

In Parliament a few days ago the Minister of Agriculture made a startling revelation. According to him, vegetable prices in the market are normal. He added, there had been no startling increases in the prices of vegetables. It brings to mind a similar astounding announcement made by a particular Minister some years ago. 

At that time university students were complaining of the high cost of a meal. That minister, informed the country that it did not cost an average citizen more than Rs. 2,500 per month to have two square meals per day!  

O tempora O mores whom do our ministers think they are fooling? We the ordinary people of this country visit Sunday fairs and street-side boutiques in search of the cheapest outlet selling vegetables and other basic foods to keep body and soul together. The poorer among us are forced to buy discarded and spoiled veggies sold at street corners as they cannot afford to go for anything more expensive. 

Today according to statistics published by the government’s own Central Bank, around 500,000 temporary workers lost employment after Covid-19 hit the country. In the aftermath of the economic meltdown many small and mid-sized Enterprises (SMEs) were forced to close down. Employees in the mercantile sector saw their salaries halved and privileges cut. 

World Bank studies estimate around 500,000 people fell into poverty due to the pandemic. This has led to an increase in the USD 3.20 poverty rate from 9.2% in 2019 to 11.7% in 2020. The study showed the extreme poverty level nearly doubled in 2020 from its 2019 levels (from 0.7% to 1.2%), and the poverty gap too has increased. In simple language, the poor have become even poorer. 

While the minister, because of his ‘busy schedule’ may not have had time to visit vegetable stalls in the recent past, ordinary folk are forced to look for the cheapest source to make purchases of food.  

The Daily Mirror on 24 July reported exact prices of vegetables quoting rates from the Dambulla, Pettah, Narahenpita centres and even from supermarkets that dot every city in the country.  

The report showed an increase in the price of beans from Rs. 450 to Rs. 650. Carrots up from Rs. 300 to Rs. 450. Green chilli probably the most widely used spice has risen from Rs. 550 to Rs. 700 per kg, while limes another widely used commodity now costs Rs. 3,800 per kg. Ginger is today beyond the reach of even the middle class. The price of a kg of ginger has reached an astronomical high of Rs. 4,860. 

Unfortunately, our journalistic colleague could not check the prices of spoiled veggies and other goods not fit for human consumption sold on the pavements situated in the vicinity of the aforementioned outlets. These ‘sales points’ cater to the poorest of the poor. 

Despite even the government’s own Department of Census and Statistics reporting food inflation has increased to1.9% in June 2024 compared to 1.5% in May 2024, government ministers have the gumption to tell us prices have not increased. 

But for girls working in the apparel manufacturing sector in the Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in the country, these prices are beyond their means. According to Anton Marcus -Joint Secretary of Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union- a female worker in these FTZs gets a basic wage of Rs. 16,000 per month. 

Yet, apparel workers produce Sri Lanka’s largest industrial export and earned $ 5.95 billion in 2022 for the country. The tea and rubber plantation workers still do not receive the government-approved daily wage of Rs. 1,700 per day. Earnings from the export of Tea increased y-o-y by 4.06 % to US$ 1,390.9 Mn from January to December 2023.  

Those who have lost employment are in a worse situation and these folk more than others are forced to purchase food unsuitable for human consumption. Normal people get prices from the marketplace. Not from the mouths of ministers. With a presidential election on the horizon and a general election to be held soon after it is best that foolish ministers keep their mouths muzzled. 

Pompous and foolish statements only set up the backs of electors and diminish the chances of political alignments they represent.