SJB criticises Government on unchanged fuel price

• Says matter raised in Parliament in February but no adequate reply received
• Threatens to take to streets with public in protest if fuel prices not reduced

Samagi Jana Balawegaya leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday criticised the Government for not reducing the price of fuel in spite of the rapid drop in the price of a barrel of crude oil in the global markets. 

Addressing a press conference held at the new SJB political office in Ethul Kotte, Premadasa alleged that he raised the matter in Parliament on 18 February, questioning the Government why a reduction in oil prices internationally was not passed down to the public.  “Why is this Government not passing on the benefit of the drop in fuel prices to the public?” he questioned, pointing out that the price of a barrel of crude was down to $ 36.89 as of today.  “We can surmise that the Government’s poor fiscal management is forcing them to keep the fuel prices unchanged,” he argued, stating that the government must reduce the price of petroleum at the pump by 30-40%.  “We the SJB stand with the people, we will have to take to the streets with the public and demonstrate in a democratic and peaceful manner if the Government fails to do so,” he said.  According to Premadasa, the Government can reduce the price of diesel from Rs. 104 to Rs. 61, the price of 92 octane petrol from Rs. 137 to Rs. 80, Super diesel from Rs. 131 to Rs. 77.56, Kerosene to be reduced to Rs. 45 and the price of a LPG domestic cylinder to be reduced to Rs. 1000. He claimed that such a price reduction was possible because international oil prices had dropped by 30%. 

“The Government is clearly covering up their poor fiscal management and ill-planned economic reforms by not passing on the benefits when the global oil prices have dropped to the public,” he stressed.