Opposition parties lash out at Govt. over fuel price hike

By Chamitha Kuruppu

The two main opposition parties yesterday blamed the Government for making false promises to the people and called the fuel subsidy was just another gimmick of the Rajapaksa administration.

The United National Party accused the Government, claiming the fuel subsidy for the private transport services and fisheries sector was nothing but a hoax.

UNP Media Spokesperson Gayantha Karunathilake addressing a media conference said that the Government purchases crude oil at US$ 98 although it claims the price is much higher. Karunathilake said though the current price of refined petrol in other markets is US$ 127, Sri Lanka purchases light petrol from Saudi Arabia at a cheaper rate. Karunathilake emphasised that the Government is in a position to sell fuel at a lower price locally.

He further noted that without pointing fingers at the opposition for the strikes that are taking place throughout the country, it is the responsibility of the Government to find ways to ease the hardships faced by the people due to last week’s fuel price hike.

The UNP’s former Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya in a statement released yesterday said that following the recent fuel price hike, Sri Lanka became the country with the highest fuel prices in Asia.

“The Government claims that until the price increase, it was were making a loss of Rs. 25 for a litre of petrol and a loss of Rs. 45 for a litre of kerosene. From petrol a profit of Rs. 7 was made per litre. The Government says it is unable to cover the losses incurred from fuel even after the recent price hike. Isn’t it the Government and the CPC that should take the responsibility for such situation? It is due to the failure of the Government and the CPC that they are making such massive losses” Jayasuriya pointed out in the statement.

 “The recent fuel price hike has created a negative impact on our economy. The fisheries sector and rural economy will be the most affected. There is already unrest in the country. This move by the Government has burdened the people in the country in an unbearable way. It is responsibility of the Government to stop all the extravaganza and think about the country and the people,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in a statement released yesterday has urged the convening of Parliament immediately to take up the issues that are taking place in the country following the recent fuel price increase.

In the statement, JVP Parliamentarian Anura Kumara noted: “The fuel price hike was a result of the Government’s decision to keep up with International Monetary Fund regulations. The Government last week allowed the rupee to float against the American dollar to please the IMF. The proportion of a dollar to a rupee is sky rocketing. Meanwhile, in order to obtain the loan from the IMF, the Government increased fuel prices by the highest percentage in Sri Lankan history.”