Food prices rise sharply in Sri Lanka, cup of tea costs Rs 100; two men collapse and die waiting in queue for petrol

COLOMBO: Two people collapsed and died while waiting in a queue for petrol in Sri Lanka. A 71-year-old auto driver and a 72-year-old man are the two dead. The 71-year-old was a diabetic and a heart patient. Both had been waiting in the queue for about four hours.

The use of kerosene oil in the country has increased after low-income families began shifting away from cooking gas due to price hike. The cooking gas suppliers have raised prices by Rs 1,359 (372 Indian rupee) for a 12.5 kg cylinder. The country has power cut for about five hours. As a result, the use of diesel generators has increased adding to the crisis.

Food prices have also rose sharply. As per the latest government data, the food inflation has soared to 25.7 percent, the highest in Asia. Earlier this month Sri Lanka’s central bank floated the rupee causing the currency to plummet by more than 30 percent to trade at about Rs 275 per US dollar. The milk powder prices have also increased by 250 rupees for a 400g pack, prompting restaurant owners to raise the cost of a cup of milk tea to Rs 100 (27 Indian rupee).