Fuel price increased with PM’s written approval: Gammanpila

14 June 2021 08:44 am Views - 369

• The minister had volunteered to make the announcement to protect the leaders of the government

By Ajith Siriwardana

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said yesterday the decision to increase the fuel prices was taken by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the cost of living and the written approval of the Prime Minister as the Finance Minister and he only made the announcement of the fuel hike.   

He told a news conference that it was a collective decision of the government and that he only made the announcement.   

The Minister was responding to a letter issued by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam calling for the subject minister to resign for increasing fuel prices.   

He said the fuel price was not decided by the Energy Minister and pointed out that it was decided based on the fuel price in the World Market and the currency rate.   

Minister Gammanpila said he obtained permission from the Treasury on three occasions to prevent any fuel price increase amidst continuous price hikes in the World market and added that Treasury was no longer able to grant any tax concessions which forced it to go for a price increase.   

“I briefed the Cabinet on February 15 on the situation. Then, the Prime Minister appointed a Cabinet Sub Committee headed by the PM to discuss the matter. It included Ministers Douglas Devananda, Wimal Weerawansa, Dullas Alahapperuma, Prasanna Ranatunge and Rohitha Abeygunawardane.   After several discussions, I was entrusted with the task of obtaining approval from the President on the fuel price increase. Then, the President referred it to the cost of living Committee. The Committee discussed the matter and granted approval on June 9. I obtained the Prime Minister’s approval on June 10,” he said.    The Minister said the Cost of living Committee was headed by the President and attended by the prime Minister, Ministers Bandula Gunawardane, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Dullas Alahapperuma, Namal Rajapaksa, Ajith Nivaard Cabraal and Lasantha Alagiyawanna.   He said MP Kariyawasam was attacking not him but the President and the Prime Minister, and leaders of the SLPP.   The Minister said it was the tradition to announce the fuel price hike by the Finance Ministry and added that he volunteered to make the announcement to protect the leaders of the government.   

I challenge Mr. Kariyawasam for a public debate on the crisis in the energy sector,” he said.