In Sri Lanka, which has been hit by a severe economic crisis, people have been severely affected by skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.
A kilo of chicken costs Rs.1000 in Sri Lankan rupees and a cup of tea Rs. 100 and an egg sells for Rs.
Sri Lanka has been hit hard by a massive economic crisis following a series of full-blown corona floods. Foreign exchange inflows to Sri Lanka have been severely affected. Thus there is a severe fuel shortage.
Due to the lack of money to buy coal, power cuts are in effect in Sri Lanka for seven and a half hours every day. Petrol and diesel prices have risen to an all-time high.
90% of restaurants in Sri Lanka are closed due to shortage of gas cylinders. Only restaurants that cook by wood stove operate. Protests are also taking place demanding the resignation of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa over the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s currency has largely devalued. The Sri Lankan rupee has appreciated to 320 against the US dollar. As a result, the people of Sri Lanka are forced to buy whatever they want, at a very high price.
Petrol and diesel prices have also gone up uncontrollably. Two days ago, the price of a 12.5 kg gas cylinder was increased to Rs. 4190. Not only this, there is a huge shortage of cooking gas.
Thus the prices of goods have skyrocketed. The price of snacks has gone up in bakeries and confectionery. The price of a sweet sells for 90 rupees. The price of an insole is 80 rupees. Even in small hotels in Colombo, the price of a vegetarian meal is 240 rupees. The price of a fish fried in roadside stalls is 250 rupees.
The price of food has also gone up as the price of the ingredients needed to prepare the food has gone up tremendously. The price of rice is 100, a kilo of cumin is 1899, the bulk of cumin is Rs. Sold for 1500 rupees. Large onion Rs.400, one egg Rs.36,
The price of chicken meat is around Rs.1000.
Maida flour has gone up by Rs 9250 per bag and sugar by Rs 8000. A kilo of milk powder sells for Rs. 1945. The sale of milk and tea in shops has been stopped as a cup of tea has to be sold for 100 rupees. In addition, the Sri Lankan government is raising taxes on various goods to increase revenue.
The Sri Lankan government has recently increased the import duty on fruits, including apples, imported from abroad by 50 percent. Thus the price of imported fruits has gone up a lot. A kilo of crackers costs Rs. Only one apple sells for Rs.150.
Apart from this, students are also affected due to the shortage of paper. Paper prices have also risen sharply.