Govt. has led people down another precipice: Ranil

12 February 2012 03:15 pm

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe charged today that the government literally led the people down the path of another precipice through the increase of fuel prices despite them already enduring numerous other hardships.
 
Addressing people in Ratnapura and Bandaragama, Mr. Wickremesinghe said that though the government vowed not to increase fuel prices, the price of diesel had been increased by Rs.31 a litre, petrol by Rs.12 and kerosene oil by Rs.35 a litre.
 
Mr. Wickremesinghe said that the prices of essential items would soar under these circumstances leaving people in the lurch.   He said that the government had to impose such a high price hike because the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had incurred a massive loss of Rs.18 billion.
 
Also, he said that the devaluation of the rupee against the US dollar had resulted in the high fuel prices.

“The UNP realised this situation in the past and took alternative measures as a result. Yet, the government continued to engage  in transactions with Iran,” he said.