“There is no point in queuing up today. The fuel price will not go up today or tomorrow. I give that assurance.” Udaya Gammanpila, Minister of Energy said today.
“It was only after three weeks of discussions within the government that we decided to increase the amount. I can say without fear that there will be no increase in oil prices in the next few days.” He was speaking at a media briefing held at the Ministry of Energy today (11).
Udaya Gammanpila, Attorney-at-Law, said that the highest price increase in oil prices in recent history has been recorded and that he hopes to discuss with the Cabinet today about granting some relief.
The Minister further said that the government will bear the increase and will take steps to provide some relief if possible. He also said that he hopes to discuss this matter in the Cabinet.
Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Sumith Wijesinghe addressing the media said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has requested the government to increase fuel prices in Sri Lanka in comparison to the increase in fuel prices in the world market.
The last time fuel prices were raised was on June 11, he said. At that time the price of a barrel of oil in the world market was $ 78.8 for 92 octane petrol and $ 76.6 for diesel. Today, the price of a barrel of petrol has risen to $ 92 and that of diesel to $ 92.67.
He also said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is incurring a loss of Rs. 14.56 per liter of petrol and Rs. 31.46 per liter of diesel due to the increase in fuel prices. On a monthly basis, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had incurred a loss of Rs. 70 billion as of August 31. He also requested the government to pay attention to this matter.
