Kerosene prices to be reduced

COLOMBO (News 1^st) - State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development, Dilip Wedaarachchi has announced that the price of a litre of kerosene will be reduced to Rs. 70 with effect from midnight on Tuesday (June 12). The state minister speaking at a media briefing convened in Hambantota today (June 10) stated that at 11.30 AM today Minister Mangala Samaraweera announced that kerosene would be provided at Rs. 75 rupees a litre. Wedaarachchi stated that he requested that it be reduced further to Rs, 70 rupees. He stated that he wished to announce that it will be put to cabinet before the Tuesday (June 12) and following cabinet approval from midnight on Tuesday, kerosene will be priced at 70 rupees a litre for everyone. Furthermore, it was said the Government hopes to introduce a system of high fines on owners of lorries, buses and diesel vehicles who attempt to use kerosene as a substitute fuel. State Minister Wedaarachchi stated that they would also introduce laws to cancel the licenses of filling stations that provide kerosene for busses and lorries.