Food prices surge worldwide

Natural disasters, oil price main reasons:

Hemanthi Guruge

Climate change and fuel prices have been the main causes for the surge in the prices of essential commodities , so that is no justification for the Opposition to try to get political mileage out of this situation, Western Province Minister Udaya Gammanpila said speaking at a media briefing at the National Library Services Board Thursday.

He said that the UPFA will obtain a historic victory at the upcoming local Government elections. The opposition makes a hue and cry about price increases of essential commodities only at election time. Price of many essential items including coconut , vegetables and others have risen these days as a result of flood . However, prices of essential items in other countries too including India and Pakistan have gone up.

Many countries face several food shortages but Sri Lanka’s position is relatively better, he said. Now Sri Lanka is successfully dealing with the food crisis.

Api wawamu Rata Nagamu program was initiated by the Government in 2006 to develop the agriculture sector in the country. The Government has also taken steps this year to establish one million home gardens throughout the country is also aimed at.

Floods in Sri Lanka affected many parts of the country. Large extents of paddy field were destroyed and many tanks were damaged. In addition, thousands of livestock perished, he said.