No need to advance Parliament meeting - Media Minister

UNP not genuine in its concern for masses :

Parliament is scheduled to meet on January 6 and there is no need to advance the date of meeting, said Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhana addressing a media briefing at the Information and Media Ministry, Colombo yesterday.

He was responding to the call made by the UNP to convene Parliament early to discuss the issue of petrol prices.

‘The UNP representatives who came to meet the Prime Minister to hand over their party resolution calling for an early meeting of Parliament arrived in luxurious Benz and Intercooler vehicles with a high fuel consumption which shows that they have no real concern for fuel prices”, the Minister added. They are interested in building public opinion against the Government and not concerned about people’s welfare, he said.

If they are really interested they could discuss the issue formally on January 6, he said.

He was of the opinion that relief should benefit the masses at large and the reduction of petrol price would affect only a small percentage of the people. It is only the price of diesel that would affect the masses, the Minister observed.

It is necessary to remember that relief is supplied to the people through money obtained from taxation, he emphasised.

It is such tax money that the Government spends on wages of public servants and pensioners, fertiliser subsidy, Samurdhi relief and development projects, he added.