It would have been better if fuel prices remained unchanged, Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa said in Koggala.
However, the Minister of Petroleum and officials believe that there should be some increase in fuel prices in the current situation. Fuel prices will be reduced at the earliest possible opportunity in the future as well as to provide relief to the population, he said.
“We haven’t increased fuel prices in the past year and a half. This decision had to be taken with the pandemic situation in Sri Lanka and the rise in fuel prices on the world market. It is not a voluntary decision. The prevailing conditions forced us to make the decision, â€he told the media.
“There are times when difficult decisions have to be made in management activities. We don’t make simple political decisions.
We are making decisions adapted to the social and economic reality of the country, the minister told the media after an official discussion held at the Koggala Free Trade Zone.
The president discussed with the National COVID Coordination Committee the provision of COVID vaccines to employees of garment factories in free zones. The Ministry of Health has reviewed the situation and recommended vaccines for workers in the free zone. Steps will be taken to vaccinate employees in all export development zones of Sri Lanka. They greatly contribute to strengthening the country’s economy. They need to be protected. As a government, we have taken the necessary steps to achieve this.