Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera says that the about Rs. 400 billion has been embezzled from the people for the last one year without giving the benefit of the reduction in world oil prices to the people.
He points out that a price formula is a financial discipline that gives the benefit of the reducing fuel prices to people and also gives them a responsibility when the prices are increased.
He says the people have not been given a single penny of the benefits when prices go down since March-April but as soon as prices are increase They have been forced to pay higher fares.
He also recalls that during his tenure as Minister of Finance the price of fuel often increased by 2-3 rupees.
The former minister says that if the price formula introduced by him as the Minister of Finance in 2018 had continued, the people would have benefited from the reduction of fuel prices. He pointed out that what is happening now is a robbery.
He further stated that the biggest problem in the country today was the absence of the strong opposition and a ruling party. Many factories had received relief at that time and that what should have been done was to protect human rights in the country, he added.
When the murders that have taken place in police custody today become internationally known, the country loses the jobs of the poor people. Therefore the law must be enforced equally for all and human rights must be protected he emphasised.
He further said that there is a risk that Sri Lanka will become Syria in Asia while speaking to the media yesterday (12) regarding the government’s increase in fuel prices.