On the other hand, Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Consumer Affairs, is busy quoting statistics of the prices of commodities sold at corporative budget shops, where goods are sold at reasonable prices, without thinking for a while about the number of such shops run by corporative societies in the whole island. Such shops are handful.

Is it possible for the villagers to travel a long way to reach such corporative shops and do their purchases considering today’s financial difficulties of the people and transport fares.

The government is intensifying its propaganda that the essential commodities are available at reasonable prices, while the reality is not so.

This problem cannot be resolved by opening a few co-operative budget shops in certain towns only. It can be seen that the government leaders are attempting to divert the attention of the people from the economic question by highlighting the war against terrorism. The term ‘terrorism’ has led to the displeasure against the Tamil people. That is the result of such propaganda.

In such a context, what is the role played by the opposition parties. Instead of summoning press meetings and making statements the opposition must take meaningful steps.

Therefore the opposition must rally people’s power properly, democratically and channel it in a manner by which they can lead the government on the right lines to solve the economic problems of the people of this country.

There is a sense of frustration among the people of this country.

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