Coupons issued to provide fuel subsidy to fishermen

Disna Mudalige

The government issued coupons to provide fuel subsidy to fishermen for April, Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

Responding to a question by a journalist at the Cabinet press briefing at the Information Department auditorium yesterday, the minister said the government spends Rs 325 million monthly to provide the fuel subsidy for fishermen.

Dismissing recent reports, the minister said the government has not stopped providing the fuel subsidy to the fishing community. He said even though the ministry increased the price of furnace oil given to the power sector, the ministry still extends its support to this sector.

The minister said his intention is to bring the Petroleum Corporation to a level of recovering its costs and earn profits.