ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Vol. 42 - No 10
News  

More protests to fight rising fuel price

By Malik Gunatilleke

Fishermen, private bus owners and three wheel drivers who took to the streets around the country, to protest against the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s (CPC) decision to increase fuel prices this week–the seventh time within the year– have rejected the concessions offered to them by the government. The CPC increased kerosene prices by a further Rs.1 on July 28 after increasing it by a mammoth Rs.16 just a month before, while a litre of diesel was increased by four rupees making it Rs. 75.

Recent protests against the rising Cost of Living opposite the Fort Railway station

After a meeting with President Rajapaksa this week, the All Island Fishermen’s Trade Union (AFTU) came to an agreement with the government to grant a seven rupees subsidy on 20 litres of kerosene a day, for fishermen. However, representatives of fishermen organizations argued that an average of 40 litres of kerosene was used for a day.

After continuous protest campaigns from July 23 to July 30, the AFTU was granted the subsidy which was proposed by the special Cost of Living Ministerial Committee. However, many fishermen are disgruntled with the current agreement with the government pointing out that the concessions were inadequate.

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NFSM) President, Herman Kumara said about 4000 to 5000 fishermen from around the island would take to the streets to protest at the government’s feeble attempt at providing kerosene subsidies for fishermen.

He said protests have been organised for Friday, August 10 at central locations around the island including Galle, Tangalle, Ampara, Trincomalee and Puttalam.“All fishermen organizations that belong to the Alliance for Protection of Natural Resources and Human Rights will be taking to the streets together,” he said. Kumara said that the government’s efforts to give 20 litres of kerosene daily at Rs.seven less than the retail price was not satisfactory as fishermen use nearly double that amount.

Posters condeming rising cost of living come up in Hatton

“The government cannot expect us to be satisfied with a seven rupees subsidy when they increased the price of kerosene by Rs.19,” he said. He said the aim of the mass scale protests was to pressurise the government into giving a 10 rupees subsidy on kerosene and increase the 20 litre-a-day limit on subsidised kerosene.

“The seven rupees subsidy has been implemented only for August so far. We are demanding that the government formulates a long term policy on kerosene subsidies for fishermen,” he said.

On August 23 another protest has been organised in front of the Fisheries Ministry in Maligawatta where over 4000 protestors will be transported from all around the island.
The fishermen are also calling on the government to end all transactions with foreign fishing companies as the local fishermen have been badly hit by the superiority of foreign vessels on Sri Lankan waters.

The importing of fish has also aggravated the situation, as local fishermen have to struggle to earn a decent amount for their catch. On another front, the Public Bus Owners’ Association (PBOA) will begin a series of protest campaigns on August 9. The recent fuel hike was implemented shortly after the private bus owners had calculated their annual bus fare hike.

PBOA president Gemunu Wijeyratne said that all operational private buses would come to a halt on Thursday to compel the government to reduce fuel prices.“We demand that the government reduce diesel prices immediately or grant bus owners permission to increase the Rs.5 minimum ticket to minimize the loss incurred by heavy diesel costs,” he said.

He said the PBOA was not requesting for a fuel subsidy, as its implementation was impractical. Ministry of Trade and Consumer Affairs secretary R.M.K. Ratnayake, who is also a member of the government sub committee on the cost of living, said that the committee was still to discuss the problem concerning fuel concessions in detail.

“We have not had enough time to discuss the matter yet but we hope to come to reach a decision early next week,” he said. Dr. Ratnayake said that the committee would be meeting tomorrow to discuss possible fuel concessions for fishermen and three wheel drivers alike.

 
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Copyright 2007 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka.