Who would be blamed for latest fuel hike, asks SJB

…reminds how SLPP attacked Udaya following June revision

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Samagi Jana Balavegaya lawmaker Mujibur Rahman yesterday (21) asked whom would the ruling SLPP blame for the latest increase in fuel prices.

MP Rahman recalled how SLPP General Secretary Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam, with the blessings of the top party leadership, repeatedly demanded Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila’s resignation over the latter making the announcement regarding the revision of fuel prices on June 11.

Referring to Minister Gammanpila’s hard hitting response to MP Kariyawasam at that time, lawmaker Rahman asked the government to reveal how the decision was arrived at in the latest revision.

The former UNPer pointed out that the Energy Minister was on record as having said that only the Finance Minister could authorise a fuel pricehike. Therefore, in the absence of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who was overseas, Prof. Peiris, in his capacity as the Acting Finance Minister gave the go ahead, lawmaker Rahman asked.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) increased the price of a litre of Petrol (92 Octane) by Rs 20 (from Rs 157 to 177), Petrol (95 Octane) increased by Rs. 23 (from Rs 184 to 207), auto diesel by Rs. 10 (from Rs 111 to 121), super diesel by Rs.15 (from Rs 144 to 159). The CPC increased Kerosene by Rs. 10, (from Rs 77 to 87). The Lanka IOC matched the CPC prices immediately.

Lanka IOC previously increased retail selling prices for both diesel (Lanka auto diesel) and Petrol (LP 92) by Rs 5 a litre each on Oct 21. The company didn’t revise prices of Lanka Super Diesel and LP 95.

Responding to another query, MP Rahman said: “When the SLPP demanded Minister Gammanpila’s resignation, the latter revealed that the Cost of Living Committee at a meeting chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the presence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on June 09 decided to increase fuel prices. Some SLPP members claimed that itwouldn’t have happened if Basil Rajapaksa was in the country.”

The SJB MP said that in the wake of June fuel price hike the SLPP created an environment for Basil Rajapaksa to enter Parliament on the National List, took oaths as the Finance Minister and within weeks committed the country to a shocking and unprecedented deal with the US Company New Fortress Energy.

MP Rahman said that the vast majority were in such a desperate situation they found it difficult to have a proper meal a day. The former UNPer said that the prorogation of parliament and the declaration that the Local Government polls would be put off by one year underscored the crisis the SLPP experienced. Even after the US-based rating agency Fitch further downgraded Sri Lanka to a pathetic ‘CC’ position the government continued to play politics with the issue, lawmaker Rahman said.

The SJB member said that the truth couldn’t be suppressed or the public attention diverted by a minor section of the government taking a stand contrary to that of the cabinet of ministers. MP Rahman asked how Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila remained in the cabinet after having accused the rest of the cabinet of betraying the country to the US. Similarly, how could President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who headed the cabinet and other members accepted a group that had backed petitions in the Supreme Court against the government, MP Rahman asked.

The MP said that soon after the fuel hike in June those who had now moved the Supreme Court over Yugadanavi deal urged the government to explore ways and means of helping the needy. The latest hike had delivered a knockout blow to the public, MP Rahman said, adding that by the time the Parliament reopened on January 18, 2022 following the prorogation the situation could be far worse.

In spite of grandiose announcements and promises to bring in required foreign investments as well as arrangements to strengthen foreign reserves nothing had materialized, lawmaker Rahman said, warning of dire consequences unless tangible measures were taken.

The SLPP’s near 2/3 majority in Parliament didn’t mean a thing. Actually, the situation was now out of control and the SLPP had realised the magnitude of the crisis it faced, the MP said.