10 October 2018 05:21 pm
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, who was responding to a question raised by Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake, said some countries believed that the price of oil could go up to $90 a barrel as a result of the global economic crisis.
“Some countries believe that the price of oil could go up to $90 a barrel by November, with the US economic sanctions on Iran,” he said.
“Such a price hike could take place if the stocks of oil that the market could lose as a result of the sanctions, cannot be filled by other means,” he said.
“I discussed this matter with the UK and Norway during my visit and they said things were uncertain.
“Therefore, what we should consider is how to face this global situation. We need to focus on this matter, not about price formula,” Mr Wickremesinghe said.
“What we should focus on is how to face the global economic issues and ensure concessions to people,” he added.
He said Sri Lanka could be affected by the trade war between China and the US as well.
Elaborating on the fuel formula, he said it was introduced after receiving the Cabinet nod from May this year.
He said the unloading cost, operating cost, pipeline fees, the cost of fuel lost through evaporation, warehouse cost, and commissions given to sales agents, taxes were taken into consideration when deciding the price as per the formula.
“This Government reduced the prices as soon as it was elected. However the prices have increased due to global developments but the current prices are still less than the price, which prevailed prior to 2015,” he added. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardene)