Bahujana Balaya Raises Concerns Over Fuel Price Increase and Government Policies

Speaking at a media briefing held by Bahujana Balaya, Executive Council Member Ravi Amarasinghe criticised the recent increase in fuel prices and raised concerns over its potential impact on the country’s economy and the public.

Amarasinghe said the Government had recently increased the price of Octane 92 petrol by Rs. 15, while the price of Super Diesel had risen to Rs. 500 after three years.

He questioned the Government’s policies, saying that fuel prices had risen sharply despite the Government having received a strong mandate to govern.

He also questioned whether Government Members of Parliament were aware of the impact that rising fuel prices could have on the economy and the daily lives of the public.

Amarasinghe said the increase in fuel prices could also lead to a reduction in the number of passengers using Metro bus services, and questioned whether the Government would take such consequences into consideration.

He also criticised the composition and functioning of the Cabinet, claiming that Ministers appointed by the Government were not necessarily working within the areas assigned to them. He specifically referred to the Agriculture Minister in making this criticism.

Amarasinghe further warned that the power given to the Government through democratic elections could also be taken away by the people. He urged those in power not to use their authority in a manner that would place undue pressure on the public.

Samith Pathirana

Executive Council Member Samith Pathirana said the country’s economic growth rate had declined and claimed that the economy was not expanding but was instead contracting.

He said the people had reached a situation where, regardless of how much they earned, they were finding it difficult to meet their living expenses.

Pathirana accused the Government of following what he described as an “exploitative policy”.

Referring to the recent increase in fuel prices, he said the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation had stated that the situation was affecting the entire world and that the increase was linked to the ongoing war.

However, Pathirana pointed to an earlier statement by the CPC Chairman that Sri Lanka does not obtain its fuel from the regions affected by the conflict but instead sources it from Singapore.

Pathirana questioned the consistency of these explanations, using the Sinhala proverb that people sometimes change their explanations to suit their needs.

He also claimed that uncertainty about the country’s future had increased among the public and said that many people had already left the country.

Pathirana recalled that, before the Government came to power, some of its Ministers had appeared on television and expressed concern that Sri Lankan children were leaving the country. He questioned whether those Ministers were still paying attention to the issue after assuming office.

He also alleged that the Government was putting pressure on the Central Bank and called on the authorities not to do so.

Pathirana further claimed that the Government was attempting to exercise state power according to its own requirements.