Parliamentarians react to fuel price hike

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Views were expressed in Parliament over the increase in fuel prices. JVP Parliamentarian Bimal Rathnayake said when the CPC was summoned before the COPE, the actual cost per litre of 92 octane petrol was Rs. 72, however, it is being sold for Rs. 137 as the government has imposed a  tax of Rs. 45.50 per litre sold. He went on to say the government is using the local market situation and the depreciation of the rupee without reducing the taxes imposed. Furthermore, he said the government has not curtailed any of its expenses with the number of ministers and deputy ministers the government staying the same "Some ministers have two subjects under them. One has the cabinet minister and the other has the state minister. Both have individual private staff. Though the minister is not given two salaries, the expenses are those for two separate ministers. You are not cutting down on those expenses. You burden the people," Rathnayake added. UPFA Parliamentarian Arundika Fernando said the finance minister is talking about rural development and road development when the people are suffering. He said the people have one meal and remain in hunger for rest of the day.