Govt officials struggle amid fuel price increases

Colombo, June 4 (Daily Mirror) - Government officials entitled to fuel allowances are facing severe financial difficulties due to the failure to revise allowances in line with recent fuel price increases, The Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights Specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa said.

Dr. Sanjeewa said that a circular issued by the Ministry of Finance had fixed fuel allowances based on fuel prices that prevailed on March 1, despite several subsequent fuel price hikes in the local market.

He said that government officials who use their private vehicles or official vehicles for duty-related travel from their residences or workplaces to various regions are now spending significantly more on fuel each month than the allowance covers.

According to Dr. Sanjeewa, the current arrangement has placed many public sector employees entitled to fuel allowances under considerable economic pressure.

He urged the Ministry of Finance to pay immediate attention to the issue and take steps to revise fuel allowances in line with the rising fuel prices to ease the burden on affected government officials.