President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that the main way to control the cost of living is to increase production and income.

The President points out that the prices of imported goods are determined by the forces of the world market and their prices can be controlled by reducing taxes.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made this observation while addressing a meeting of women representatives and activists of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

The President stated that the importation of 17 crops that can be grown in the country was identified and the importation of those crops were restricted.

It is noteworthy that the increase in the payment of Rs. 32 per kilogram of paddy to Rs. 50 today has increased the income of farmers as well as post-production.

The people of Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts have benefited not only from the increase in paddy prices.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated that those who talk about human rights do not say anything about the benefits to the people.

The President also stated that the government could not remain silent when it identified the problems of the people and that there was no opportunity for hostile forces to suppress the truth.

The Presidential Media Unit stated that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa emphasized that the government has never supported deforestation.