Sri Lankans on the brink of starvation as food prices rocket

Milton Perera looking on in his kitchen in the Slave Island neighbourhood of Colombo. - AFP

Colombo (AFP): His hair is neatly combed but his cheeks are sunken and veins visible on his gaunt frame: like many Sri Lankans, Milton Pereira and his family cannot afford to buy enough food.

During the country's worst-ever economic crisis, which has driven rampant inflation and spurred protests that last week brought down the president, Sri Lankans are buying less, eating less and working less.