No fuel price hike for next twelve months - Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said the main Opposition UNP's protest against the transfer of three seats from the Badulla district to the Moneragala district is not salutary for democracy. The Government has no particular interest in this transfer at all but similar transfers have been effected earlier too. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that the UNP is protesting as they don’t have any issue to canvas. They should recognise the independence of the Elections Commissioner and the legality of his decisions regarding the allocation of seats to districts.

The Minister said it was a blatant lie that the UNP says that fuel prices will be increased. They come out with absurd stories. Increasing fuel prices this year is out of the question as the Ministry has entered into long term contracts with the suppliers. The contract specifies that the stipulated price will be maintained for the next twelve months as well. There should be no fear in the minds of the people that fuel prices will go up. We have studied market trends and there is no volatility in the market.

Q: Time and again the Opposition has pointed out that petrol and diesel prices could be reduced to ease the burden on the consumer. Allowing for price fluctuations, is there any possibility to effect a price reduction?

A: At the moment, I don’t think we can do that. But we are trying our best to understand the market and secure a steady source of supply at a concessionary rate and then we will try to find a reasonable reply to this question.

Q: Frequent breakdowns, suspension of operations are recurrent features of the Sapugaskanda refinery. Decades ago such situations were never heard of. What has gone wrong?

A: There are two reasons for this. First is the unavailability of Iranian crude. We have to find a suitable crude similar to the former. We have tested samples. Lately, we found that the best is the mixture of Murban and Oman oil. Now we are using it and there is no problem. But this time, it was due to unavoidable circumstances because one of our hoses broke down. Then we could not unload the crude oil and also secure the long term availability of crude. Crude oil ships are berthed. But we could not unload the oil and there was a problem. During that time, we attended to urgent repairs in the refinery. After repairing the buoy hose, operations began on July 21. We have already unloaded two ships. We are in the process of unloading a third. These are unavoidable situations. It is essential that we refurbish the present refinery with new technology. This is a huge investment to the tune of around two billion US Dollars. We are also pursuing avenues and discussing with the Government and relevant parties to get the best option.

Q: The UNP has sounded an alarm that fuel prices will go up by the end of this year. Is there any possibility of this happening?

A: There is no possibility whatsoever. We have entered into long term contracts with the suppliers. The condition of the contracts are such that we will get the same price as stipulated for the next twelve months as well. There should not be any fear in the minds of the people that fuel prices will go up. We have also studied market trends and there is no volatility in the market. The UNP can’t just utter that fuel prices will go up. It is a blatant lie by the Opposition. They come out with this type of absurd story.

Q: Will the Commission on missing persons be an answer to the West's human rights allegations or will it soften the tough stand taken by US and EU against Sri Lanka?

A: Definitely. Because we don’t know the exact amount. We are now ascertaining the figures and the best thing is to find our own solution. Even the Commission on missing persons will go there and speak to the people concerned and then came to a conclusion. Once that is done, I think that is enough to counter allegations levelled against us.

Q: Dr. Subramanian Swamy's assurance that the UNHRC cannot take unilateral action is encouraging news to Sri Lanka. If India as in the past stands by Sri Lanka, pressure from outside will be ineffective. What are the prospects of Indo-Sri Lanka relations in the future?

A: Our relations with the new Indian Government are good. The new Government has a different way of looking at issues. This is encouraging and welcome. Indian support is also important. That is why we want to have strong bilateral relations with India. Its our biggest neighbour and is a bigger market. We will have to work with them accordingly. The Government is maintaining close bilateral ties with them. Our External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris visited India. The Indian External Affairs Minister will also come to Sri Lanka. They know about Sri Lanka very well. The Indian External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj has come to Sri Lanka several times in the past. I also met her twice on those visits. Their support is necessary.

Q: The transfer of three seats from Badulla to the Moneragala district is described as a political stunt to win more votes for the Government. How would you explain this?

A: It is untrue. This is not our job. The Elections Commissioner is an independent entity. Before every election is called, according to the powers given to him by the Elections Act, he ascertains how many seats are available in a particular district. This is not our concern at all as similar transfers have been effected earlier as well. Why is the UNP is protesting this time? They don’t have any issue to canvass before the people. So they are coming out with different slogans. This is not a salutary feature for democracy. They have to recognise the independence of the Elections Commissioner and the legality of his decisions on the allocation of seats to districts. They must understand ground realities.

Q: Has the Government changed or improved its strategies for reconciliation after the recent incidents in Aluthgama and Beruwala?

A: It think that was an isolated incident. The Government has done everything possible to calm the situation and has ensured that it will not recur in other areas. I don’t think tere was any problem elsewhere. I live in Kurunegala and there are a number of Muslims living among us. We even had Iftar with them last week. What I am saying is that we should understand isolated incidents and other incidents that are threatening the unity and peace between the Muslims and Sinhalese and other communities in the country. Isolated incidents should not be blown out of proportion. This kind of isolated incidents happen. In Morsel in Iraq, the Sunnis are killing the Shiias. In a situation such as that what can we do? The Government took appropriate measures by enforcing the law and the culprits were taken before Courts. We have taken every measure to address the issues.

Q: What made the Government to launch “ Rata Rakina Nil Paura Surakimu (Protect the blue wall that protects the country) public awareness campaign countrywide?

A: One thing is that the UPFA is the largest political organisation in our country. In every village, we have a branch consisting of at least 50 people. It is our duty to periodically to enlighten the people about our development program, our vision for the future and the initiatives taken to uplift the country's low income families and generate employment opportunities for the rural folk and the other people as well. We are going from one electorate to another by conducting seminar- type events so that our speakers will educate our electors. That is what we are doing right now.

Q: Will the proposed BRICS Bank be more conciliatory and accessible to Third World countries with soft conditions for loans compared to the World Bank and the ADB?

A: We will have to wait and see till they form that bank. This is really good because we will have another bank on similar lines as the ADB and World Bank. There is nothing wrong in that. Because the BRICS countries namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are emerging economies and they have plenty of resources. We will have to wait and see the consequences.

Q: The threat of wild jumbos is rampant in the North Western Province as exposed by TV channels. Could not concrete measures be taken to eliminate this tragedy?

A: We have a large elephant population compared to the size of the country. We have more than 7000 elephants and a lot of baby elephants are also there. I think the Ministry is doing a good job by separating elephants from human inhabited areas and erecting electric fences. We have a large elephant population. The elephants are now moving out of the jungles. This is a difficult question to find an answer. The North Western Provincial Council and the Government are going to erect number of electric fences. So we can minimize that threat. But we will have also to understand how to live with elephants peacefully and coexist with them. These are the things that we will have to learn. We will have to learn from the past that how our ancestors lived with elephants with minimum casualties. So I think the Wildlife Department itself will have to come out with a tangible proposal to that.

Q: The UNP insists that UNP Parliamentarians have the right to visit public institutions and probe into malpractices, waste of public funds and lapses or excesses in administration. What is the Government's stand?

A: That is a political stunt. Because the UNP wants to create headlines in newspapers, in that sense, I don't think that its a bad idea. But they go to institutions like the oil refinery without following proper procedure. If they want to visit such places, they l have to get prior approval. We can't let people into these places haphazardly. They must understand that they are MPs and should follow procedure.

Q: Will the Uva Provincial Council Election be a tough contest, since the UNP has pinned every hope of scoring a victory under their young Chief Ministerial candidate. Could the UPFA face the challenge?

A: We have no doubt about our victory. I feel sorry for that young man. He will have face a huge setback in his political career. The Government is ready to face any challenge and we will definitely win the election with an overwhelming majority.

Q: Don't you believe in political dynasties? Have you groomed a family successor to continue your politics?

A: I have not thought about who will be the next political aspirant from my family.

But all my family members were politicians. I entered politics because of the experiences I gained from my relatives. I have lot of relatives in politics. The closest one was the late Education Minister I.M.R.A. Iriyagolla. They were engaged in politics and Members of Parliament. Some of them were Ministers.

I am the eighth person to enter Parliament in my family circle. I have not thought of bringing anyone into politics. That is a decision they will have to take. I think I am still young and I can bat on for sometime.