Patali claims current fuel import costs do not justify retail prices

Colombo, June 28 (Daily Mirror) - United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka presented what he described as current fuel import cost estimates, stating that a litre of petrol could be unloaded at the Port of Colombo for approximately Rs. 220, while diesel could be landed at around Rs. 235 per litre before taxes.

Based on these figures, Ranawaka questioned how the government could justify retail prices of more than Rs. 430 per litre for petrol and Rs. 400 per litre for diesel, arguing that consumers are not benefiting from lower international oil prices.

Speaking to the media, the URF leader rejected the government's explanation that current pump prices reflect fuel purchased at higher rates during recent global market disruptions. He argued that fuel shipments typically take only around five days to be loaded and delivered to Sri Lanka, making the claim that the country is still selling month-old, higher-cost fuel stocks implausible.

Ranawaka also alleged financial irregularities in fuel procurement, claiming that excessive premiums were being paid to suppliers. He alleged that one supplier received an additional Rs. 98 per litre for diesel, while another was paid an extra Rs. 120 per litre, alleging that such payments were intended to conceal corruption within the procurement process.