Protests do not earn dollars: Gammanpila

COLOMBO (News 1st); Protests do not earn dollars, Minster of Energy Udaya Gammanpila says. Expressing his views on the protests demanding for the reopening of the Sapugaskanda oil refinery during a media briefing held today (18), the Minister stated that Sri Lanka halted the importation of crude oil to preserve the foreign reserves of the country. The Minister also stated that he too thinks that it is necessary to start importing crude oil and resume work at the oil refinery, yet the trade unions do not understand the bitter truth. " The bitter truth that the trade unions don't accept is that, protests don't earn us dollars. Trade unions must think ahead of their actions. As the Minister of Energy, I have no ability to earn dollars," he said. Speaking further, Minister Gammanpila also added that if he were to import crude oil, the treasury must grant him dollars, and that the Ministry is currently in the process of formulating methods through which the treasury can earn dollars.