PM says prices of essential food commodities will be reduced within next month

By Norman Palihawadana

The government will provide relief to the common masses by reducing prices of essential food commodities within the next month, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announced.

“It is our duty to ease the cost of living burden of the people who gave us a landslide mandate at the last parliamentary election”, the premier told The Sunday Island.

He said that it’s no secret how the former Yahapalanaya suffocated the masses with tax burdens so much so that it was a struggle to eke out an existence with the cost of living skyrocketing.

“We are now working out the modalities on reducing prices of essential food items with Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena”, Rajapaksa noted.

He said that discussions are continuing on reducing the cost of living and the relief measures will be announced within the next month.

“We will always maintain the trust the masses reposed on our government and continue to work towards their welfare”, the Prime Minister assured.

The Opposition will find it difficult to be critical of a people-friendly government, which grants them relief at every turn to ensure a better tomorrow, Rajapaksa added.