The trade unions, which are representing the working people have demanded that the government should immediately reduce the fuel prices that caused to oppressed the people of the country.
Trade union organizations emphasised that the increase in fuel prices at a time when commodity prices were raised for several times and also middle in this deadly pandemic was a deliberate blow to the people who could not meet their basic needs.
The trade unions have pointed out that the while President and a group of ministers have come forward to protect the minister in charge of the energy, increasing fuel price has made workers insecure.
Trade unions also stated that the people who use kerosene in plantation and fishery industry have been severely affected due to price of kerosene increase by seven rupees. Furthermore, the majority of the working class uses vehicles such as motorcycles and three-wheelers as their means of transportation.
They further point out that the increase petrol price by 20 rupees per litre will directly affect the majority of the working people and this will inevitably increase the living cost of the people as a whole.
Trade union says that the present government of Sri Lanka is oppressing the people in this manner while the governments of all other countries are providing various reliefs to the people of their countries affected by the Covid 19, shows that the government has no “responsibility” for the lives of the people of the country.
Trade union leaders have also criticized the government’s attempts to mislead the public in order to stifle voices against rising oil prices.
With the outbreak of the Covid 19 in the world in 2020, the oil prices in the world market went down to a negative level. Trade union leaders also allege that not only Sri Lankan government did not take any action to reduce fuel price at that time but also government is being invested money in non-essential activities such as importing vehicle, constructing highways and gymnasiums.
Trade union leaders including Joseph Stalin, Ravi Kumudesh, Jagath Gurusinghe and Chinthaka Bandara have issued a statement on behalf of the working people, say that it is obvious that government was planned to increase fuel prices and also deceive people now as their pre- planning.
-Shani-