Low-quality coal forces Sri Lanka fuel price hike, says MP Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka's government has had to raise fuel prices, a decision attributed by MP Namal Rajapaksa to the use of substandard coal for power generation. Rajapaksa, the national organizer of the Podujana Peramuna party, explained that the current administration is compelled to increase fuel costs to cover losses incurred from power generation.

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The main reason the government has had to increase fuel prices is low-quality coal.

Rajapaksa elaborated that the need to burn more oil for electricity production, stemming from the use of low-quality coal, is the primary reason for the fuel price hike. He stated that the country is now burning hundreds of thousands of liters of fuel daily to generate power. This situation contrasts with previous governments, where Rajapaksa alleged that ministers received commissions when fuel prices were increased.

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In previous governments, when the minister increased fuel prices, they received a commission. But today, due to the increase in fuel prices, the government has had to increase fuel prices, the main reason being that low-quality coal was brought in, and to generate electricity for the losses incurred, more oil has to be burned.

Furthermore, Rajapaksa highlighted that Sri Lanka is currently purchasing fuel at the highest prices globally. He asserted that the public is bearing the burden of these costs and the resulting losses. Rajapaksa made these remarks while addressing the media in Nugegoda.

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Hundreds of thousands of liters of fuel have to be burned daily.