Sri Lanka’s cost of living is likely to surge by twice or thrice as bigger as it is now in the next few days due to the Russia – Ukraine conflict, said Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Jagath Kumara, speaking to a briefing held in the SLPP Headquarters yesterday (26).
“The world is facing a very serious matter at the moment. The situation in which Russia attacks Ukraine. This situation affects every country economically and socially in certain ways. Both Russia and Ukraine are our friends, and in the backdrop of war, we may likely to lose the ties with these two countries. In such a situation, we may likely to have a problem with our products, especially exporting tea. Russia imports a lot of tea from us and helps us; supports us in many ways. Ukraine too has supported us in various ways,” the MP said.
He added: “Therefore, there is uncertainty whether the conflict between these two countries may further drive us down in the crisis. Even in the world, it is uncertain whether this may trigger another war. We were not the only ones to face the dollar crisis, the recession and the increasing cost of living. The cost of living may likely to soar by twice or thrice the size of it is today due to the Russia – Ukraine conflict. So, the fuel price has begun to increase again, so will gas. Also, when we are unable to export our products, the dollar deficit worsens. Of these crises may affect this country again. These are not problems we looked for. We are not the ones who told Russia and Ukraine to fight each other, are we?”
MIAP
