Sri Lanka trade unions write to the President on cost of living

The National Trade Union Center (NTUC) affiliated to Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has in writing called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to bring down the cost of living and demanded that provision be made to pay a special cost of living allowance of Rs. 3,000 to the working masses. NTUC Head and JVP politburo member K.D. Lalkantha told  that
the increase in the cost of living has greatly affected the fixed income earners in the public and private sectors. He said that the President and his government should ensure that the cost of living is immediately reduced. "However, until the government reduces the cost of living steps should be taken to pay a special cost of living allowance of Rs. 3,000 to the working people. The government has to allocate Rs. 100 for each day in the month for the workers," he said. He added that the fixed income earners are unable to meet the increasing prices. According to Lalkantha, the government should also intervene and ensure that the private sector employees are also paid a special cost of living allowance. "We have now written to the President informing him of our demands, but we would continue to rally people from various sectors to fight for relief," he said.