The price hike of the essential commodities has caused many problems to the people. It has led to the increase of cost of living. Even people with guaranteed income are unable to cope up with the price hike and the increase in the cost of living.

The wages of the estate workers are meager. Their wages are increased very slowly in meager amounts after several struggles. It is unfortunate that no recommendations are made for their wage increase in the annual budget. Therefore it is the estate workers who are very badly hit by the price hike and the increase in the cost of living. It is unbearable for them.

In such a context, the All Ceylon Plantation Workers’ Union has requested the government to implement all the assurances given to them in the 2007 budget.

In the 2007 budget, it was announced that there would be a program to enable the estate workers to purchase essential commodities at a reasonable price. But this has not been implemented. It was also promised that the estate workers could obtain wheat flour as a subsidy. This, too, has not been implemented.

Considering all these problems, the government must take steps to bring down the cost of living by ensuring a reasonable price for essential commodities. Otherwise, the people will face starvation.

An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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