Majority lauds govt. for its decision not to increase diesel price

When interviewing people on the proposals made by the Cabinet Sub Committee on Cost of Living, the majority thanked the Government for keeping the diesel prices unchanged until December this year. Meanwhile an Engineer said the Government could easily grant a subsidy on fuel and essential commodity items by reducing the ministries, the perks, such as luxury vehicles, given to parliamentarians, restricting private foreign trips on State funds and also by abolishing the Provincial Council system.

Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Minister A.H.M. Fowzie guaranteed that the decision taken by the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) on the Cost of Living to keep the price of diesel unchanged until the end of this year will never be reverted.

"At the same time, the CSC took a decision to keep the electricity and water tariffs too to remain unchanged during this period,"

Asked, if a price reduction on fuel in the World Market occurs during this period, Minister Fowzie gave a firm assurance that the Government is also bound to reduce the price under such circumstances.

"But when the World Market prices came down during the previous UNP era, they never passed that benefit to consumers," the Minister said. Former Public Administration Minister and Galle District MP Vajira Abeywardana asked the authorities not to increase the fuel prices often and blame it on the World Market.

"Even during our times when the price of fuel went up in the World Market, the Treasury handled it without passing heavy burdens on people," He said he remembered a litre of petrol was only Rs. 52 at the time the UNP handed over the Government two years ago, but unfortunately the amount has been doubled now,".

However Abeywardana urged the Government not to increase the price of diesel. He also called upon the Government to sell diesel at a subsidised rate considering the pathetic living conditions of estate sector and underprivileged in the country.

Private sector executive and father of one Nilanga Perera blamed the Government for increasing fuel prices unfairly during the last five months without considering the pathetic living conditions of underprivileged in the country.

"As a free thinker I firmly believe that the majority of the poor in the South voted for President Mahinda Rajapaksa, expecting a price reduction of essential food items and fuel".

"But the very opposite has happened and now the people are suffering with the high cost of living,"

A university student Krishan Angelo of Kadawatha thanked the Cabinet Sub Committee for taking steps to keep the diesel prices unchanged even for a few months.

Housewife Anne Nilmini of Godagama welcomed the proposals made by the Cabinet Sub Committee and urged the Government to grant a diesel subsidy for vegetable transporters, fisher and plantation communities and also for registered trishaw drivers who run vehicles on hire.

A mother of three, Nirodha Perera of Battaramulla was not happy with the proposals made by the CSC and said that the Committee had not taken any attempt to reduce the price of infant milk powder.

"I request the CSC to take immediate steps to bring down the prices of all brands of milk powder, especially infant milk powder for the benefit of the future generation.

A son of a Deputy Minister, Nirmal Seneviratna from Down South thanked the President and welcomed the Government for keeping the diesel prices unchanged until December.

"Actually the prices of petrol and kerosene too must be kept unchanged because the majority of the people are facing a severe economic crisis these days,".

"When I went to our one- hundred acre rubber plantation last week, the labourers told me their difficulties and I found that the monthly income of some families was below Rs. 4000,".

The Deputy Minister's son frankly said that the price increase of fuel, electricity, telephone or water will not be a burden to them, since all these expenses were borne by the State.

He also said that the fuel price hike will never affect the parliamentarians as the majority of them are entitled to unlimited fuel allowance. Dr. Gayathri Sendanayaka of Negombo blamed the Government for increasing the prices of flour, milk powder and fuel considerably during the last five months.

"I think the cost of living went up sharply, since there was no major development activities in the country like in the JR-Premadsa era,".

She said no Government in the past had increased fuel prices like the present Government.

Therefore I request the Government to start more development activities, so that the COL can be brought down easily. An Electrical Engineer, Hemantha Udugampola of Nittambuwa said:

"We know due to lack of funds, the Government too cannot subsidise fuel; therefore to improve the financial position of the Government, I request the President to reduce the number of ministries, cut down the perks given to parliamentarians and abolish the provincial council system.

He also requested the Government to start more development projects to solve the unemployment problem as the former Presidents have done by introducing television, garment factories and free trade zones to uplift the country's economy.