Kerosene price hike a killer bait!

Fisheries sector in jeopardy

24 August 2022 01:19 am 2 Bookmark

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Over the past week fishermen have staged protests island-wide and they urge the government to bring down prices of kerosene (Pix by Hiran Priyankara – Puttalam )

At a time when fishermen were anticipating a catch the government imposed a 200% hike on the price of kerosene

Fishermen have staged protests island-wide and they urge the government to bring down prices of kerosene

The prolonged fuel shortage in the country handicapped many industries including the fisheries sector. For over three months fishermen have been unable to earn a living. And at a time when fishermen were anticipating to make their catch the government imposed a 200% hike on the price of kerosene. Apart from the fisheries sector, around 2 million families in low income segments depend on kerosene for their day-to-day work; hence this price hike is a huge blow to them as well. Over the past week fishermen have staged protests island-wide and they urge the government to bring down prices of kerosene while providing a continuous supply in order to continue with their occupation. However, the government is yet to respond to
their demands.

The price hike for kerosene doesn’t only affect the fisheries sector, but even those in low income segments too

Protests have continued in Chilaw, Negombo, Periyamulla and surrounding areas

More than 35,000 families depend on the income generated by small fishing boats

Fishermen unable to bear the cost

“The government is only issuing 15 litres of kerosene per person, but we fishermen need around 40-50 litres per day,” opined All Ceylon Fisheries Trade Union President Aruna Roshantha. “Fishermen have been unable to go to sea for the past three months and with the kerosene price hike engaging in our occupation has become unthinkable. From a personal point of view I need around 50 litres of fuel per day and the price of a litre of kerosene is Rs. 341. This means that I have to spend Rs. 15,000 just for fuel. But we can’t catch fish worth Rs. 5000. So how can we bear this cost,” questioned Roshantha.
Roshantha further said that they have a set of demands which they will discuss with the Presidential Secretary and that further action to be taken depends on the outcome of the meeting.

Unions urge Govt. to listen to their demands

This is mere injustice for all segments that depend on kerosene. The entire fisheries sector will come to a standstill. Therefore we request the government to bring down the price of kerosene and provide a continuous supply of fuel”
- Anthony Jesudasan National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) Coordinator

The price hike for kerosene doesn’t only affect the fisheries sector, but even those in low income segments as well. From Rs. 87 the price of a litre of kerosene has risen to Rs. 341; a 200% increase which people are unable to afford at this hour. “The Minister said that he would provide kerosene for fishermen after August 19, but we didn’t receive any,” said National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) Coordinator Anthony Jesudasan. “This is mere injustice for all segments that depend on kerosene. The entire fisheries sector will come to a standstill. Therefore we request the government to bring down the price of kerosene and provide a continuous supply of fuel in order to carry out our operations as usual. Even though the Minister has promised to issue kerosene he has failed to do so. If the government fails to listen to our demands we will launch a series of protests islandwide,” said Jesudasan.

A petty income sans savings

“The prevailing economic crisis had already affected the fisheries sector as fisherfolk can barely afford three meals a day. Also without a proper income children have been unable to attend school. Protests have continued in Chilaw, Negombo, Periyamulla and surrounding areas. Fishermen claim that there’s nothing left for them to survive from the income when they have to spend a huge amount of money on fuel. We therefore urge the government to bring down the price hike by at least a 100%, so that fishermen can save some money,” Suduwella Rural Fisheries Association representative Maxwell Fernando said.

An unfair price hike on a subsidy

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”
- Kanchana Wijesekera Power and Energy Minister

In a recent Tweet, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that the kerosene price revision remained a must for many years. “One main reason for CPC losses was selling fuel 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 opinion that was tweeted read.

But contrary to his statement, industry activists claim that kerosene was always provided as a subsidy; prioritizing the needs of underprivileged segments. The kerosene requirement is between 300-500 metric tonnes and the CPC issued kerosene as a subsidy without considering the losses. “Therefore the prices weren’t set on par with kerosene prices in the global market,” said Samagi Trade Union Alliance Convener Ananda Palitha. “Ever since the CPC was established kerosene was provided as a subsidy and it’s the duty of the government to bear the cost. The CPC didn’t incur losses because of kerosene. Fishermen have been deprived of their occupation for three months and small fishing boats cannot operate without kerosene. More than 35,000 families depend on the income generated by small fishing boats and these people have been severely affected by the kerosene price hike,” said Palitha.

The CPC didn’t incur losses because of kerosene. Fishermen have been deprived of their occupation for three months and small fishing boats cannot operate without kerosene” - Ananda Palitha Samagi Trade Union Alliance Convener

Activists claim that the Government has taken an unfair decision without considering the plight of people; individuals who depend on kerosene to carry out their day-to-day work. While global kerosene prices have been reduced the Government of Sri Lanka decided to impose a price hike on a subsidised item. Therefore activists urge the government to reconsider this decision and consider the plight of low income segments.

Ministers unavailable for comments

A few days ago, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda promised to provide kerosene for the fisheries sector, but a week later the government imposed a price hike on kerosene; further burdening the fishermen who were anticipating some sort of relief.
Several attempts to contact the Fisheries and Power and Energy Ministers Douglas Devananda and Kanchana Wijesekera respectively, proved futile.

<img src="https://bmkltsly13vb.compat.objectstorage.ap-mumbai-1.oraclecloud.com/cdn.dailymirror.lk/assets/uploads/image_505a4efb39.jpg" /> Over the past week fishermen have staged protests island-wide and they urge the government to bring down prices of kerosene (Pix by Hiran Priyankara – Puttalam )  <center><a href="https://www.hi.lk/himag" target="_blank"><img src="https://bmkltsly13vb.compat.objectstorage.ap-singapore-1.oraclecloud.com/cdn.sg.dailymirror.lk/assets/uploads/advr_7fec3b236e.jpg" /></a></center>   <blockquote> <ul> <li>At a time when fishermen were anticipating a catch the government imposed a 200% hike on the price of kerosene</li> <li>Fishermen have staged protests island-wide and they urge the government to bring down prices of kerosene</li> </ul> </blockquote>   The prolonged fuel shortage in the country handicapped many industries including the fisheries sector. For over<img src="https://bmkltsly13vb.compat.objectstorage.ap-mumbai-1.oraclecloud.com/cdn.dailymirror.lk/assets/uploads/image_76b0ec4cd5.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 5px; float: right;" /> three months fishermen have been unable to earn a living. And at a time when fishermen were anticipating to make their catch the government imposed a 200% hike on the price of kerosene. Apart from the fisheries sector, around 2 million families in low income segments depend on kerosene for their day-to-day work; hence this price hike is a huge blow to them as well. Over the past week fishermen have staged protests island-wide and they urge the government to bring down prices of kerosene while providing a continuous supply in order to continue with their occupation. However, the government is yet to respond to  their demands.   <blockquote> <ul> <li>The price hike for kerosene doesn’t only affect the fisheries sector, but even those in low income segments too</li> <li>Protests have continued in Chilaw, Negombo, Periyamulla and surrounding areas</li> <li>More than 35,000 families depend on the income generated by small fishing boats</li> </ul> </blockquote>   Fishermen unable to bear the cost  “The government is only issuing 15 litres of kerosene per person, but we fishermen need around 40-50 litres per day,” opined All Ceylon Fisheries Trade Union President Aruna Roshantha. “Fishermen have been unable to go to sea for the past three months and with the kerosene price hike engaging in our occupation has become unthinkable. From a personal point of view I need around 50 litres of fuel per day and the price of a litre of kerosene is Rs. 341. This means that I have to spend Rs. 15,000 just for fuel. But we can’t catch fish worth Rs. 5000. So how can we bear this cost,” questioned Roshantha. Roshantha further said that they have a set of demands which they will discuss with the Presidential Secretary and that further action to be taken depends on the outcome of the meeting.  Unions urge Govt. to listen to their demands    <blockquote> This is mere injustice for all segments that depend on kerosene. The entire fisheries sector will come to a standstill. Therefore we request the government to bring down the price of kerosene and provide a continuous supply of fuel” - Anthony Jesudasan National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) Coordinator  </blockquote>   The price hike for kerosene doesn’t only affect the fisheries sector, but even those in low income segments as well. From Rs. 87 the price of a litre of kerosene has risen to Rs. 341; a 200% increase which people are unable to afford at this hour. “The Minister said that he would provide kerosene for fishermen after August 19, but we didn’t receive any,” said National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) Coordinator Anthony Jesudasan. “This is mere injustice for all segments that depend on kerosene. The entire fisheries sector will come to a standstill. Therefore we request the government to bring down the price of kerosene and provide a continuous supply of fuel in order to carry out our operations as usual. Even though the Minister has promised to issue kerosene he has failed to do so. If the government fails to listen to our demands we will launch a series of protests islandwide,” said Jesudasan.  A petty income sans savings  “The prevailing economic crisis had already affected the fisheries sector as fisherfolk can barely afford three meals a day. Also without a proper income children have been unable to attend school. Protests have continued in Chilaw, Negombo, Periyamulla and surrounding areas. Fishermen claim that there’s nothing left for them to survive from the income when they have to spend a huge amount of money on fuel. We therefore urge the government to bring down the price hike by at least a 100%, so that fishermen can save some money,” Suduwella Rural Fisheries Association representative Maxwell Fernando said. An unfair price hike on a subsidy    <blockquote> 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” - Kanchana Wijesekera Power and Energy Minister  </blockquote>   In a recent Tweet, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that the kerosene price revision remained a must for many years. “One main reason for CPC losses was selling fuel 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 opinion that was tweeted read. But contrary to his statement, industry activists claim that kerosene was always provided as a subsidy; prioritizing the needs of underprivileged segments. The kerosene requirement is between 300-500 metric tonnes and the CPC issued kerosene as a subsidy without considering the losses. “Therefore the prices weren’t set on par with kerosene prices in the global market,” said Samagi Trade Union Alliance Convener Ananda Palitha. “Ever since the CPC was established kerosene was provided as a subsidy and it’s the duty of the government to bear the cost. The CPC didn’t incur losses because of kerosene. Fishermen have been deprived of their occupation for three months and small fishing boats cannot operate without kerosene. More than 35,000 families depend on the income generated by small fishing boats and these people have been severely affected by the kerosene price hike,” said Palitha.   <blockquote> The CPC didn’t incur losses because of kerosene. Fishermen have been deprived of their occupation for three months and small fishing boats cannot operate without kerosene” - Ananda Palitha Samagi Trade Union Alliance Convener </blockquote> Activists claim that the Government has taken an unfair decision without considering the plight of people; individuals who depend on kerosene to carry out their day-to-day work. While global kerosene prices have been reduced the Government of Sri Lanka decided to impose a price hike on a subsidised item. Therefore activists urge the government to reconsider this decision and consider the plight of low income segments. Ministers unavailable for comments  A few days ago, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda promised to provide kerosene for the fisheries sector, but a week later the government imposed a price hike on kerosene; further burdening the fishermen who were anticipating some sort of relief.  Several attempts to contact the Fisheries and Power and Energy Ministers Douglas Devananda and Kanchana Wijesekera respectively, proved futile.

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Comments - 2

Sokrates Wednesday, 24 August 2022 10:37 AM

It is right to reduce subsidies for the benefit of all. The current kerosene price is correct and in line with the world market price. Sri Lankans need to rethink. Since the times when Sirimavo Bandaranaike distributed free rice to the citizens, they have developed a sense of entitlement to the state and feel that the state should take full care of them. This way of thinking, which has promoted laziness and unwillingness to work, must come to an end. In order to support poor families and people in this country, a corruption-free and controlled social system must be introduced. Only people who are demonstrably unable to work or demonstrably unable to find work should be supported.

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Nilvala Vijayasiri Monday, 29 August 2022 07:09 AM

This is in reply to the comment above. Don’t assume that just because certain items are subsidised people become lazy. Where is the evidence for it. A large majority of people do work to earn an income. Our farmers do till the land. Fishermen do go out to the sea. Don’t insult the ordinary hardworking men and women just because they receive some subsidies from the state. At the end of the day it’s their money. And it’s their money that was robbed by politicians and their ‘hard working’ officials and their ‘hard working’ business cronies. The sense of entitlement, people who make these types of comments have just beggars belief.

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