Trade Unions claim that electricity tariffs will also increase in the near future.
Speaking to NewsRadio, trade unionist Ananda Palitha said it is clear from the increase in fuel prices that the government is not sensitive to issues faced by the people at all.
He said the newly appointed Minister of Power is the same individual who increased electricity tariffs when breakdowns were reported at the Norochcholai Power Plant and the Ceylon Electricity Board incurred losses.
Ananda Palitha claimed that a new Power Minister was appointed to fulfill the needs of the government and not to provide concessions to the people or ease the burden of the public.
He said both Ministers of Power and Energy will work towards fulfilling the agenda of the government while disregarding the plight of the masses.
He added that despite the Secretary of the Ministry Energy’s claims, ships carrying 50,000 MT of fuel are docked within Sri Lankans waters at present while remaining stocks of fuel are in India.
Ananda Palitha added that the stocks in ships have not been unloaded for seven days and the Minister has not even taken steps to distribute the 20,000 MT of fuel in the storages at present.
He said the government has let people line up in queues for fuel mercilessly although it is in possession of certain stocks.
