UNP to fight tooth and nail until Govt. passes the relief to people.

(October 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Gayantha Karunatileke, UNP M.P. speaking to the media today ( 2 Oct) , at the UNP media unit said , the Govt. , when it steeply raised the prices of fuel in 2008 May, told the people, this was necessitated because the World market crude oil prices have risen to US$ 147.00 per barrel. But, assured the people that if the fuel prices drop , the benefit thereof will be passed to the people.

Now, when the world market price has dropped drastically by US$ 55.00 per barrel, the Govt. has not only brazenly repudiated its promise to reduce the prices commensurate with the world market price slump , but is also insidiously adding new taxes and cess on the local fuel prices, he exclaimed.

The Govt.’s cold calculated design to ruthlessly extort and cheat the people, and the double standards it practices are very evident, he said. Even when it raised the prices in May , the Govt. had 1 ½ months stock of oil purchased at lower prices before the World market hike, yet , the Govt. ignored this and burdened the people without waiting for the stocks to be exhausted . Now, however, when the world market prices have plummeted rapidly, the Govt. wants the people to wait until the budget date, for the President to make an announcement on this. Clearly it brings home to the people the truth that the Govt. is all out only to cheat the people with false excuses and promises rather than providing them with genuine relief.

This is in profound contrast to the UNP‘s policies which are always based on genuineness and eagerness to give maximum relief to the masses. The UNP during its 1 1/2 years of tenure in office; four times it reduced the fuel prices although 7 times the prices were raised corresponding with the world prices fluctuations. With this Govt. only vacuous promises are given to reduce prices, he lamented.

Under the present world market price structure, the Govt. can easily sell petrol at Rs.110.00, diesel at Rs. 92.00 and kerosene at Rs. 60.00 after payment of all the taxes, harbour, excise, CPC ,Provincial Council as well as distributor’s costs. Why it cannot give at these prices benefiting the people is because, all its corruption, massive wastages and fiscal muddling have to be covered up by these unconscionable profits, he asserted.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corp.(CPC) is continuing to waste large sums of money every year to import super luxury Monteros . In 2008, while there was a fleet of vehicles, it spent nearly Rs. 200 lakhs just for import of one Montero for the Chairman of the CPC, he pinpointed.

This Govt. which came to power on the votes of the people and is very stubborn against giving relief to these very people has no qualms about giving relief to Foreign vessels ; it is selling Diesel at R. 95.00 per litre to them, but to its own people it is selling at Rs. 110.00 when it could easily sell at Rs. 92.00, inclusive of all its profits.

Karunanayake said, the UNP which has always stood by the people when in or out of power deems the actions of this Govt. riding ruthlessly on the backs of the people to feed its corrupt elements , wasteful exercises and largest cabinet of Ministers as most repugnant and abominable from the people’s standpoint. Therefore, it has not only filed legal action , but has also met the Treasury Secretary yesterday (1 Oct)to impress on him the immediate need for a downward price revision on the fuel prices. - Sri Lanka Guardian