Increasing fuel prices during the wide – spread of the Covid -19 pandemic, has made people even more helpless. Over a night furl prise rised by not two-three rupees but aboot twenty rupees.
Many parties are talking about the increase of fuel price in middle of this pandemic situation. Meanwhile SLPP alleged that Energy Minister, Udaya Gammanpila responsible for increasing this price of fuel as his own decision.
But Minister Gammanpila says he is not crazy enough to raise prices on his own. However, taking advantage of this opportunity, the SLPP says that the Minister should be resign.
In a way, this is a re-enactment of the discord of Wimal’s party. Minister Gammanpila also not accepting defeat and convened a press conference today to respond to the allegation SLPP .
Meanwhile, with the increase of fuel prices, Bus Gemunu has returned to the forefront. He said that with the increase in fuel prices, private buses has to change their prices cause they are already transporting workers to factories and offices.
Gemunu Wijeratne, President of the Private Bus Owners’ Association says that about 20% of private buses are used to transport employees to these essential services due to travel restrictions. However, it does not apply to health workers who are transported to medical care centers, including hospitals and that service will be provided continuously, he said.
Also, due to the spread of the Covid 19, the private bus industry has not been able to function properly since last year and the requested subsidies from the government have not been received. He had stated at a media briefing yesterday (12) that the operation of the bus industry was in crisis due to the increase in fuel prices including tire prices, spare parts prices which also raised in this year.
He had pointed out, this private bus industry employs about 50,000 people. At the moment, their families are in dire straits. Although the two ministers in charge of the subject had been asked to pay at least an allowance of Rs. 5,000 they had not received it either.
-Shani-