News
Gammanpila reveals massive fuel tax raked in by Treasury
… warns of possible fuel shortage
By Sujeewa Thathsara
The Ministry of Finance collected about Rs. 368 million afrom the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) as tax from the sale of fuel on a daily basis, Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila said yesterday, addressing the media in Colombo. The Minister added that the CPC made a loss of Rs. 551 million a day.
“There is an increase in the price of fuel in the world market. The CPC is also incurring colossal losses. To mitigate the pressure on the CPC, I asked the Minister of Finance, Basil Rajapaksa, on Friday (18) to remove the taxes on fuel. We have not increased the price of fuel. If the Ministry of Finance removes the tax on fuel, it will be a great relief for the debt burdened Corporation,” he said.
The Ministry of Finance charged Rs. 42 as tax per litre of Octane 92 petrol, Rs. 64 on a litre of Octane 95 petrol, Rs. 17 on a litre of regular diesel and Rs. 39 on a litre of super diesel, Minister Gammanpila said.
“The CPC sells a litre of octane 92 petrol at a loss of Rs. 19, litre of octane 95 petorol at a loss of Rs. 17, litre of regular diesel at a loss of Rs. 52, litre of super diesel at a loss of Rs. 35, and litre of kerosene at a loss of Rs. 63. If we keep selling fuel at this rate, not only will we run out of dollars, but also rupees,” he said, warning that there was the possibility of a fuel shortage due to the rupee crisis the CPC was facing.
In 2021, CPC incurred a loss of Rs. 83 billion.
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which was to be held at UNESCO Headquarters today [Tuesday 1 April], with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.
The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) BUNGO and ETAJIMA arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit this morning (01 Apr 25).
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The 141m long JMSDF BUNGO is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander TANAKA Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.
Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-meter-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 Apr.
“You and your families will be eliminated”
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randun
A full-scale investigation has been launched to track down an underworld character, ‘Navy Dinesh,’ a key accomplice of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, for issuing death threats over the phone to three police officers, including the Gampaha HQI, Crime Branch OIC, of the same police station, and others.
Navy Dinesh is believed to have fled the country.
According to police sources, threats were issued following the arrest of Navy Dinesh’s father and brother in connection with a drug trafficking case.
Phone analysis reports have confirmed that the calls originated from Dubai and France.
Following the murder of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, Navy Dinesh assumed leadership of the underworld gang he had previously been involved with.
Navy Dinesh contacted the Gampaha HQI, the OIC of the Crime Branch, and the investigating police constable, and threatened to kill them and their family members. “You and your families will be eliminated,” he said.
A special police team had been assigned to investigate the matter, and a report has been submitted to the courts, police sources said.
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