Low income families of Sri Lanka are not burdened - Prime Minister

Prime Minister of Sri Lanka D.M. Jayaratne says the government has not burdened the low income families in the country with price hikes. Addressing an event in Doluwa, Kandy to distribute kerosene subsidy coupons, the Prime Minister has said
that fuel prices had to be increased due to the increases in the global oil prices. He has noted that the government would provide subsidies to the low income earners, but they should be utilized in the proper manner. Jayaratne has added that while the welfare facilities provided by the government are beneficial to the people, they should try to avoid them in order to be self-sufficient. According to Jayaratne, Sri Lanka is the only country that provides many free services to the people at great cost to the government. "People should not be dependent on government subsidies and welfare schemes if they want to be self-sufficient and independent," he said.