A Family’s Monthly Food Expenditure Has Exceeded One Lakh Rupees; MP Sanakka

15-Nov-2025

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The monthly food expenditure of an ordinary four-member family had already been estimated three years ago as 65,500 rupees. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP D. V. Sanakka stated that this amount has now exceeded one lakh rupees.

He made these remarks while participating in the fifth day of the debate on the Budget Speech for next year, presented by the President, in Parliament on November 13.

Continuing his speech, he said:

The government claims that there are no new taxes in this budget. However, the budget speech mentions an expected VAT revenue of 150 billion rupees.

When VAT is increased from 18% to 20%, and the number of taxpayers also increases, tax revenue for the government will naturally rise. They speak of reducing indirect taxes but continue to impose taxes.

The government also mentioned a salary increase for public servants. According to this, an ordinary public employee will receive only 56,145 rupees. But the Department of Census and Statistics has not carried out a Household Income and Expenditure Survey for the past three years, despite the Parliamentary Oversight Committee insisting that it must be done.

Nevertheless, according to the last survey conducted, a person needs to spend 16,413 rupees per month on food to obtain the minimum calories required for the body. Based on this, a four-member family needs 65,500 rupees per month for food alone. This has now exceeded one lakh rupees. Therefore, the relevant institution must conduct an accurate survey.

We ask the government to at least resolve the farmers’ issues before the 21st. Otherwise, they will come to Nugegoda on that day, he said.