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Kerosene price hike sparks anger from hill country to coastal areas
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Leslie Perera fisherman for 40 years
Energy minister says subsidy price a drain on CPC, assures relief for low income families
By Nadia Fazlulhaq
The recent kerosene price hike will be a topic of discussion both at Cabinet level and Parliament after the government’s decision to increase a litre from Rs. 87 to Rs. 340 sparked anger among urban low income groups, the estate sector and fishing community.
Angry fishermen took to the streets demanding immediate relief as they have to pay an extra Rs.253 rupees per litre for their fishing boats.
“Fishermen all over the country struggled without kerosene for months and now they have to pay an exorbitant amount for it,” charged National Organizer of the All Ceylon Fisheries Federation Ratna Gamage.
Fishermen held protests in Chilaw, Ambalantota, Negombo, Puttalam and Colombo.
Ajith Gihan of the Puttalam Fisheries Association said the government should have considered the plight of fishermen before making such drastic changes.
He said over 30,000 fishermen in the North Western coast have been directly impacted by the kerosene shortage and price hike with many of them not going out to sea for weeks andin some cases months.
Many children in the plantation sector are forced to study by the dim light of a small clay lamp lit with coconut oil instead of using kerosene lamps . Pic by Nayananada Buwaneka
Leslie Perera who has been a fisherman for 40 years said the income of day-boat fishermen has been badly hit due to the fuel crisis.
“We have nothing to sell, only the roof over our heads. There is no money to feed our children,” lamented Marlon Fernando, another fisherman.
For the urban poor, cooking with kerosene is the only availbale option due to limited space to have a wood stove and inability to afford gas.
“I prepare string hoppers on a kerosene stove and supply to shops. During the past few months we struggled with the shortage, and now the price hike,” said Sajidah Rizvi from Grandpass, Colombo.
Plantation sector workers will be the worst affected as they mainly rely on keroseneto prepare a meal after a tiring day’s work and in some areas kerosene is used for lighting.
Jeevan Thondaman, State Minister of Estate House and Community Infrastructure said their party will take up the matter of the price hike with both the President and Prime Minister
“Kerosene is absolutely essential for the plantation sector. We have had discussions with the Energy Minister as well. With the interim budget also being presented, we are trying to push for a cash subsidiary for the affected plantation sector workers and families,” he said.
There are about 200,000-250,000 workers both in tea and rubber plantations islandwide.
“In Nuwara Eliya district alone there are over 150,000 people who need kerosene for their day-to-day domestic work,” Minister Thondaman said.
Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said he will discuss the concerns of the fishermen at tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting.
“I have spoken to President Wickremesinghe regarding the kerosene price hike and how it has impacted the fisheries. The President assured of a relief but did not specifically say how the relief will be given,” he said, adding that two thirds of the 300,000 fishing population depend on kerosene.
According to Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekare the ‘kerosene price revision has been a must for many years”.
“One main reason for CPC losses was selling at subsidised prices. With prices now on par with costs the government has proposed a direct cash subsidy to low income families, fisheries and plantation sectors that depend on kerosene,” the Minister said.
Additional reporting by
Hiran Priyankara and Rahul Samantha
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