Mahinda Rajapaksa consistently tells you that the cost-of-living (inflation) is increasing by 4.5% a year. This is a lie. The cost of 46 essential food items alone has increased by an average of 12 percent.
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s deceit is possible because he changes the basket of consumer items that is used to assess the cost of living. He also changes the year of comparison (base year) when calculating cost-of-living increases. This is why the IMF and World Bank have criticized Central Bank statistics[1]. Moreover, we must remember that the Census and Statistics Department’s Account Division Director H.S. Wanasinghe went on the record saying that GDP figures were massaged[2].
Development, other than one or two colossally overpriced (and thus corrupt) mega-infrastructure products, is confined to enriching the Rajapaksa family and its cronies. Development is a mirage and anyone who has done grocery shopping will tell you so. It is the common man and the common woman who have to feed their children that must suffer as the price of essential foodstuffs increases on a monthly basis.
[1] http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130602/columns/the-importance-of-accurate-economic-statistics-46998.html
[2] http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/40662-official-alleges-growth-rate-massaged.html
Click on the picture to enlarge;
Dr Kaancha Karuvadu / December 30, 2014
Leave aside the cost of living.
There is real scarcity of food items.
Mahinda said SL will be self sufficient in rice but is still importing rice from Pakistan.
There is scarcity of mutton and plentiful of dog meat in the stalls. Kill three dogs to one goat is the ratio. Testicle of one goat is then pinned to the goat carcass to deceive the consumer. As a result, you can’t buy mutton roles or mutton kottu rottis anywhere in Sri Lanka.
There is abundance of gold with Mahinda – trickle of it was distributed to Douglas Devananda’s supporters. These were then taken away by Douglas.
Oil and gas has started to ooze again in Mannar seas – must be pumped into the sea by Mahinda.
There is plentiful of cut-outs of Mahinda all over Sri Lanka (more than self sufficient).
BBS’s Gnanasara Thera, Mervin Silva, Weerakotiya etc., will promote self sufficiency in vacuum for Mahinda.
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Amarasiri / December 30, 2014
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RE: Infographic: Rajapaksa’s Lies And The Real Cost Of Living In Sri Lanka
“Mahinda Rajapaksa consistently tells you that the cost-of-living (inflation) is increasing by 4.5% a year. This is a lie. The cost of 46 essential food items alone has increased by an average of 12 percent.”
This is NOt the only area he lies.
He lies in many areas.
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jangi hora / December 30, 2014
Drum sticks, Carrot, Tomato and Beans…. staple food of the people. hik hik
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Sensible Thinking / December 30, 2014
ZIMBABWE!
Mugabe Robert = Mahinda Rajapaksha
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Amarasiri / December 30, 2014
MEDAMULANA Mahinda Rajapaksa = Medamulana MaRa
Zimbabwe Mugabe Robert = Zimbabwe MaRa
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Hilarious / December 30, 2014
Mugabe Robert has not yet lost an election. He can be acclaimed as President for life. Of course we thought Fidel Castro was President for life but events turned out not to be so. But Mahinda! If he looses definitely then: Mugabe Robert ≠ Mahinda Rajapakse
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Diogenes / December 30, 2014
An inveterate liar ..callous thief .. relentless thug .. great patriot .. said to be a descendent of the Buddha!
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Shiro / December 30, 2014
No surprise. This graph only supports what we personally experience, each day we go to the markets.
The cost of living has skyrocketed, and people are struggling to keep up.
What can you expect when the ruling family is more interested in beautifying places, making unnecessary ports and airports, and only focusing on themselves and those who kiss up to them, make those millions.
We deserve leaders who work to make OUR lives better and easier.
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Brian Vittachi / December 30, 2014
I live in Singapore where the cost of living is among the highest among developed countries. How can it be that my brother living in Sri Lanka pays about the same as I do on his electricity bill?
Here in Singapore we have the highest paid ministers in the world. This has made me realise that the COI index rises in tandem with how much public funds those on top take to reward themselves with.
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Native Vedda / December 30, 2014
Brian Vittachi
“How can it be that my brother living in Sri Lanka pays about the same as I do on his electricity bill?”
Because for a long period of time Champika Ranawake was the Minister in charge for Power and Energy. What else do you expect from this bigot? He put his own perceived race before power and energy.
“Here in Singapore we have the highest paid ministers in the world.”
Less corrupted than rest of the world, still they give value for money. Here in this island the politician who have close connection with governments other incomes.
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madclub / December 30, 2014
With these lies and many more SALAMAN AND JACKIE in town to entertain us.
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Senthil / December 30, 2014
I have been to Colombo once during the piece talk time and I went to wellawatha market to buy mangos. The stall keeper told that one mango was Rs200, my God my estimate was 50cents. When I was working in Colombo, I think my monthly salary was only enough to buy 10 mangoes at the present rate. The money value deflated that badly. I wonder how poor people like me survive in srilanka but still Singhalese with half empty stomach united with MR to kill Tamils and still not satisfied. There is a saying in tamil “I do not mind Even to loose my both eyes, if I can make my enemy to loose one eye”.
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Suddha / December 30, 2014
Common Senthil, don’t over-exaggerate the point, your slip is revealing. There was a lot of killing of all communities by the LTTE, and then it was retaliated by Sinhala forces, ordinary people and Armed Forces. They were merciless and ruled by the gun. Therefore they all died by the gun. Now it is easy for you to even express yourself freely. If it was then, you will have been hunted and gunned down in cold blood. Thank God you are still around and stop complaining about the price of Mangoes. It is brought down from Jaffna (Karthakoloppan) – the best. If you need cheap Mangos, buy it in Jaffna rather than in Wellawatte. 50 cents a Mango days are long gone, just like 5 cents cup of tea. It is 35/= a cuppa today. Get real when you next visit Chinatown. By the way, don’t complain about the inclement weather and blame that too on someone you like to hate.
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Abhaya / January 2, 2015
What a senile donkey ,
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dcn / December 30, 2014
LIES, DAMN LIES, AND STATISTICS. These statistics do not reflect the real cost of living. People are suffering at various levels. It is only the new rich with commission money, drug business, llquor brewers most of them illegal, who are able to spend and also very lavishly with the illgotten money.
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