President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has assured the public that the government will provide a fuel subsidy to prevent a rise in domestic fuel prices in October, despite a sharp increase in global oil prices.
Addressing a rally in Akuressa, the President said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has pushed global oil prices back to levels seen in April, creating additional pressure on Sri Lanka’s economy.
He acknowledged that fuel prices would normally increase in October under global market-based pricing. However, he said the government would intervene through a subsidy rather than passing the full increase on to consumers.
The President said a government should not place the entire burden of an international crisis on the public and stressed that assistance should be provided when global price increases become unaffordable.
