UNP says is not capable of offering any relief to the public due to high level of corruption and incompetence

The United National Party (UNP) said the authorities purchased 130,000 MT of fuel despite the reports that the oil prices were about to go down in the world market.

UNP media spokesman, Gayantha Karunathilake, MP, accused the government of profiting from the fuel sales.

A litre of petrol is only Rs.76.40 when it reaches the Colombo port but is sold at Rs. 157 at the forecourt   UNP spokesman, Gayantha Karunathilake

“A litre of petrol is only Rs.76.40 when it reaches the Colombo port but is sold at Rs. 157 at the forecourt,” he told journalists in Colombo.

The government and the private bus owners raised the bus fares by over 27 percent in May, in the wake of rising oil prices.

The government is not capable of offering any relief to the public due to high level of corruption and incompetence, the MP said.

Authorities deny

He also accused the media, that justified the oil price rise as a world phenomenon, of failing to criticise the government’s inaction offer a relief to the consumers as prices went down.

It is the average price of the month which is calculated. You cannot increase or reduce the price because of daily fluctuations   SLPC chairman, Asantha de Mel

However, the chairman of Sri Lanka Petroleum Corporation (SLPC), Asantha de Mel, categorically denied accusations by the UNP.

He insisted that the government is still selling fuel, apart from petrol, with a subsidy.

“It is the average price of the month which is calculated. You cannot increase or reduce the price because of daily fluctuations,” he told BBC Sandeshaya.

Mr. de Mel said he would offer all data to the UNP and insisted that the SLPC has ‘nothing to hide’.