Fuel taxes raised above previous levels, opposition MP alleges in parliament

The government has raised fuel taxes above the levels that previously prevailed, opposition parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has alleged. He made the charge during a discussion with a group of members in parliament.

Although the government had granted a measure of relief through fuel price revisions, the increased taxes have placed pressure on consumers, he said. He pointed out that the government had pledged to supply fuel on the basis of import costs, to remove commissions and to reduce the existing fuel tax.

Instead, fuel taxes have been raised above their earlier level and the people are having to bear the consequences, he said. He also noted that while the prices of milk powder and other essential food items have increased the cost of living further, salaries remain unchanged.

He also challenged government ministers' claims that there are no queues for fuel or gas, saying people in both rural and urban areas are reporting shortages. He asked whether the government's only answers to the economic hardship were imposing more taxes and launching investigations against those it labels criminals.

He further alleged that the government is trying to suppress the opposition through manufactured material and that pressure on the public is growing. Over the past two and a half years the government has failed to introduce any effective programme to cut the cost of living, reduce schoolchildren's education expenses or strengthen household finances, he said, adding that inflation has passed 8 percent. These are his allegations; no response from the government side has been announced so far.