Fuel price reduction in world market JVP urges Govt. to pass on benefit to consumers

By Ajith Siriwardana  

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday urged the government to provide the benefit of the fuel price reduction in the world market so as to support manufacturers and industrialists to resume their industries and businesses.   

Former MP Vijitha Herath said the price of a barrel of crude oil in the world market has reduced by 60 per cent from January to May.   

“A litre of Diesel can be sold at Rs.42 now and a litre of petrol at Rs.55. A litre of kerosene oil can be reduced from Rs.70 to Rs.28. The government has no right to say that it is short of money and is not revealing how much it has earned due to the fuel price reduction,” he said. 

 
Mr. Herath said a barrel of crude oil can be purchased at US$ 10 according to trade pacts between States whereas it cost US$ 28 in the open market.   

He said electricity tariffs should also be reduced in line with the fuel price reduction as most of the electricity generation such as in Kelanitissa depends on fuel.   

“If people were provided relief through fuel and electricity tariff reduction, the economy which was affected by the Covid-19 will return to normal,” he said.   

He said the government was bringing up various topics to divert the topic of providing relief and added that it has resorted to dramas of arrests just like during the previous regime. 

He said electricity tariffs should also be reduced in line with the fuel  price reduction as most of the electricity generation such as in  Kelanitissa depends on fuel