Fuel Price Hike on World Children’s and Elders’ Day Is a Blow to the Public – Sajith Premadasa

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa criticised the Government over the increase in fuel prices, saying that the decision came at a time when the country was preparing to mark World Children’s Day and World Elders’ Day.

In a special statement, Premadasa said that while the country should work towards creating a safe, prosperous and strong environment for children, infants, the younger generation, senior citizens and all citizens, the Government had instead increased fuel prices shortly before the two commemorative days.

He said that before coming to power, representatives of the present Government, led by the current President, had promised to provide fuel at the landed price, remove taxes imposed on fuel, stop payments made by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to the Treasury, and eliminate corruption, fraud and commissions.

Premadasa said those promises had now been broken.

He accused the Government of misleading the public through what he described as false promises and claimed that the Government had deceived the country’s 22 million people.

He also referred to a recent statement that billions of rupees had been allocated to provide a fuel subsidy in the coming months, saying that this too had been misleading.

Premadasa said that before the latest fuel price increase, the Government had stated at rallies that fuel would be provided under a subsidy scheme. He questioned what had happened to that promised subsidy following the latest price increase.

He further questioned whether the Government intended to continue governing through what he described as “false promises” and asked why, if large amounts of money had been saved in the Treasury, those funds could not be used to provide relief to ordinary people, low-income families and those facing financial difficulties.

The Opposition Leader called on the Government to stop making what he described as false promises and to provide genuine relief to the public.

He also called for the Government to move away from what he described as “joke politics” and take measures based on the actual situation faced by the country and its people.

Premadasa said that a large majority of the people were currently struggling to make ends meet and added that he would not hesitate to raise democratic challenges against the Government to protect people’s livelihoods and secure their rights.

The Government’s official news portal confirms that October 1 is observed in Sri Lanka as a day to celebrate children while also honouring senior citizens.