People not burdened by CoL - Yapa

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Minister Anura Yapa

The government loses Rs 26 from every litre of diesel and Rs 36 from every litre of kerosene oil. The government never gives the full weight of the cost of living to the people, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday, Minister Yapa said that a tax of Rs 2.50 has been imposed on diesel and this is the only tax imposed on diesel.

"The government spends a large amount of funds for free health service, free education, fertilizer subsidy, electricity etc. Both three-wheeler and inter-cooler owners enjoy a diesel subsidy," he said.

Minister Yapa said the government never takes orders from the IMF, any organization or country.

"The Central Bank and the Treasury manage the country's economy logically. The IMF has never ordered Sri Lanka about what to do and what not to do.

"The IMF did so in the 1960s and 1970s, but now the world has changed. Some people still think that the IMF demands things," the minister said.

"Sri Lanka can decide whether or not to obtain the second and third installments of the IMF loan. No decision has been taken still.

"The Central Bank and the Treasury manage the economy according to the country's requirements. Sri Lanka never followed the instructions of others when it comes to economic management and it has no intention to do so in the future," Minister Yapa added.