Relief package only for companies, not for people - UNP

Relief package only for companies, not for people - UNP

Wednesday, 31 December 2008 20:01

The Rajapaksa regime has attempted to deceive the people once again as they are stepping into 2009, by announcing which it claims the biggest relief package in recent history, but in actual fact a mere reduction in fuel and gas prices, said UNP spokesman Gayantha Karunatilake.

Speaking to the media in Colombo today (Dec. 31), he accused the present regime of disrespecting the country's law and its people and acting in an authoritarian, shortsighted and inefficient manner.

"When the electronic media announced breaking news last night, everybody thought the Rajapaksas had captured Velupillai Prabhakaran or Kilinochchi, but they did not expect a deception like that."

Every country is having considerable fuel and commodity price reductions, but the present Sri Lankan regime had granted mere reductions - Rs. 10.00 for petrol and kerosene oil, Rs. 02 for diesel, 75 litres per month for trishaws at a rate reduced by Rs. 20, Shell Gas by Rs. 166 and Laugfs Gas by Rs. 276, he said.

It is clear that these reductions are not on par with world market reductions.

The excuse given by commerce minister Bandula Gunawardena at the last gas price increase was since gas is a byproduct of crude and the crude price has gone up rapidly in the world market, it is known even to an infant that the local price should be increased.

"By now, the world crude price has come down by 109 US dollars per barrel, and according to the commerce minister's calculations, the gas price should come down by Rs. 750, which is known even to an infant," said Mr. Karunatilake.

He wanted to know from the minister whether he had intended such a deception when he promised a considerable price decrease in the New Year.

"The government has reduced the petrol price by Rs. 02, but earns a 180 per cent profit from petrol. While earning such a profit, how can it claim that it had given concessions to the people? Is it a real concession for trishaws that they are given a maximum of four litres a day at a price reduced by Rs. 20? Does the government think motorcyclists as being rich people as they have not been given any concession?"

"Considering world market fuel prices, it is possible to give petrol at Rs. 80 per litre, diesel at Rs. 55 per litre and kerosene oil at Rs. 45 per litre. Had we had a government of our own, we would definitely have given petrol at Rs. 55 a litre, diesel Rs. 32 a litre and kerosene oil at Rs. 26 a litre," he added.