The United Trade Union Collective has questioned the basis under which the new Minister of Finance Ali Sabry stated that fuel prices and taxes will be increased within the next six months.
Convener Ananda Palitha speaking to NewsRadio said the government has no mandate to increase fuel prices.
Minister of Finance Ali Sabry yesterday stated that the government will hike taxes and fuel prices within six months and seek to reform loss-making state-owned enterprises, in an effort to fix public finances.
Palitha questioned Minister Sabry as to why efforts are being taken to increase fuel prices, highlighting that seeking the support of the International Monetary Fund and increasing fuel prices are two different matters.
He added the government should have sought IMF support months ago owing to its poor decisions that have led to the economy being crippled.
Palitha charged the government of already hiking fuel prices to exorbitant levels and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation increasing prices significantly in comparison to world oil prices.
He said the government has also imposed a high tax rate on fuel in addition to an increase in fuel prices.
Ananda Palitha urged the government to heed the public outcry to step down instead of further burdening the citizens.
