The Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapakse issuing a statement to commemorate the 1953 hartal which falls on Monday (August 12) said that essential consumer items including sugar, rice, flour, milk had increased in price and that the income had not increased even by a single unit. "How can the people live in such a situation?" he queried.

"The electricity bills, water bills and the price of gas are increasing day by day. Tax burdens are being heaped on the other hand. We have to point this out to the government through the protests of the people," he stated.

The full text of the Opposition Leader’s statement is as follows:

"The UNP which gave an election promise to give a measure of rice for 25 cents till the sun and moon lasted obtained a massive mandate in 1952. We remember how that promise was shattered in the first budget itself of the UNP government.

The price of a measure of rice was increased to 72 cents from 25 cents. Railway fares were increased from 05 cents to 10 cents. But the price of even a single item used by the rich was not increased, at that time. Prices of essential items of the common masses, such as rice, wheat flour, sugar, dhal, etc., were doubled.

Against this suppression, the Revolutionary Sama Samaja Party (VLSSP) of Philip Gunawardena and the LSSP, along with the Communist Party decided to stage a strike against the government and to launch a protest campaign. The SLFP was also a prominent participant in this protest.

This protest campaign which was held on August 12, 1953, took the form of a massive "Hartal" with the entire masses taking part in the agitation. Offices and factories closed down. The Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake and the Cabinet panicked and realised the uprising of the people. They had to take refuge in a British ship anchored in the Colombo harbour to avoid this situation. Ultimately, the Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake was compelled to resign from office. The protest (hartal) at that time was so powerful that it made the then Prime Minister resign from office.

Today, the people are in a hundred times worse situation than at that time. The UNP government which came to power giving promises to the people that they would make them prosper in every respect, suppressed their legitimate rights. The prices of all essential consumer items including rice, sugar, flour, milk, etc., have sky-rocketed. But their income has not increased even by a single unit.

How can the people live in such a situation? The electricity bills, water bills and the price of gas are increasing day by day. Tax burdens are being heaped on the other hand. We have to point out to the government through the protests of the people. It is our duty to do so.

Therefore, we started from Nugegoda the protest campaign against the suppression and oppression of the government, political victimization and privatization, to mobilise the protest of the masses. It was a tremendous success. The protest campaign in Kegalle too was a success.

We were given the fullest co-operation by all media in this endeavour. It is our duty and responsibility to the people. When the government acts in such a ruthless manner, we as a responsible opposition cannot keep quiet.

Just like in 1953, the leaders of the working class and the people’s representatives should join hands on this occasion without any party differences. The Trade Union Federation and a number of independent trade unions have already joined hands with us for the protest campaign scheduled to be held on the 12. It is our intention to put pressure on the government to reduce the cost of living of the people, halt privatization and pay a sufficient wage to workers."