Fuel for the vehicle got expensive, shall we at least run it on water?

Ittapane Saddhatissa Thero, a monk loyal to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the Rajapaksa family, has critically commented on the increase in fuel prices, addressing a network of YouTube channels. His speech is as follows.

"Actually, today, fuel prices in Sri Lanka have reached a historic high.

When talking about fuel prices, it was the Honorable President who spoke more about it than us, both in the past and today.

When the President came to Parliament and spoke about fuel prices, I don't know about others, but I certainly felt that he was talking about increasing fuel prices.

He said that there are no storage complexes, that there are no storage complexes in this country, and no way to store fuel.

At that time, he didn't say that. At that time, he said there were plenty of storage complexes, and the government was inefficient, so they weren't being utilized – that was the story he told then.

Now he says there are no storage complexes. It's better if we listen to his speech in his own voice, otherwise, people might think we said it. So, let's listen to it.

The oil tank complex was taken over by Sri Lanka after paying compensation to the British government. Today, although there are 100 tanks in the Trincomalee oil tank complex, one has been destroyed, and 99 are in good condition.

Regarding the sale of these 99 tanks, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe signed an agreement with IOC in 2001.

However, all the conditions in that agreement are now null and void. It's more of an understanding than an agreement. That understanding itself states that a formal agreement should be signed within 6 months. But even though 6 months have passed and a considerable amount of time has elapsed, no such formal agreement has been signed.

Also, the ownership of the land belonged to the Port Authority. Therefore, the Port Authority has absolutely no custodianship over that agreement.

So, what exists there is an absolutely invalid agreement.

Therefore, this oil tank complex is a national asset of ours today.

How much? There are 99 oil tanks there now. Approximately, 100,000 metric tons of oil can be stored in those oil tanks.

The total storage capacity of all oil tanks in both Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela is 400,000 metric tons.

But the Trincomalee oil tank complex can store one million metric tons.

Today, there is huge traffic congestion due to oil bowsers departing from Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela.

After comparing all this, it is very important to make Trincomalee the main oil distribution center in our country. We can bring those oil tankers to Trincomalee Port, and fill those tank complexes through a pipeline system. There is also a railway line there. Oil can be transported by that railway line. Our entire oil distribution network was initially linked with the railway.

Today, if you look at Sri Lanka, there is an oil storage complex near every major railway station. There is a storage complex near Kurunegala railway station, near Anuradhapura railway station, near Haputale railway station, near Badulla railway station, and also near Galle railway station.

What does that mean? Our oil distribution network was integrated with the railway.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has already estimated the profit if we bring oil tankers to Trincomalee, store them in those depots, and distribute oil via rail. They point out that if oil is distributed from the Trincomalee oil tank complex to the North and East alone, there will be a profit of 250 million rupees per year.

That means, instead of transporting oil by bowsers to Jaffna, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee, if the oil tanker is brought directly to Trincomalee Port, stored in that oil tank complex, and distributed from there, there will be a profit of 250 million rupees per year.

Now, aren't these our country's resources? Why doesn't the government want to keep these oil storage complexes under our ownership?

There are a few minor renovations to be done. I remember earlier, when Minister Chandima Weerakkody was in office, a special team of experts came and submitted a report on its development. If there are 100 to 200 million dollars, this can be developed. The Petroleum Corporation can even take a loan to do it. Then it can be developed. Through that development, a profit of 250 million rupees per year can be earned just by distributing oil to the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Traffic congestion can be minimized, and distribution can be made more efficient. The Railway Department can also earn additional profits.

Therefore, these are the most important aspects of our economy. What should always happen with our storage facilities? When the next ship arrives, the storage facilities need to be emptied as necessary to store the oil from that ship. You can't keep the storage facilities full continuously.

That means, approximately, if we abandon the IOC storage facilities in Trincomalee, the total capacity of all storage complexes in Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela is only about 150,000.

There is a big contradiction between what the President said then and what he says today.

Before, he said a thousand different stories, like there are 99 oil tanks and they can be transported by train. And those were truly just stories.

Now he says there are no places to store oil. Therefore, oil has to be brought in according to the amount that is reduced.

So, I don't understand what these talks are about. The Honorable President came to Parliament and said that if the dollar increases by one, we will have to increase by two rupees. One dollar today is around 300 rupees in Sri Lankan currency.

So how was it increased now? Now, within this very month, fuel prices are increased three times.

Therefore, Mr. President, people find this difficult to bear. Please understand this. Because with these fuel prices, it's hard for people to live.

The reason is that it's difficult for those in the fishing industry to go to sea. It's difficult for those in the bus industry to continue without increasing fares. It's also difficult for those in the bakery industry to do so.

It's difficult for those who drive three-wheelers, and it's difficult for those who drive cars for hire. Then, in other sectors, especially for farmers, it's difficult to use machinery for things like plowing fields and harvesting paddy. It's difficult to do all this because they can't bear these high prices.

So, we say, as you said back then... not us, but you, Mr. President, said back then that the reason for the increase in fuel prices is the imposition of an unlimited tax.

So, we say, everyone knows there's a global crisis. We're not denying that. But even knowing about that crisis, we didn't maintain a proper plan to retain oil. That's why we are in such a difficult situation today.

And also, there are ministers who boast when asked about it. What did these boasting ministers say? They said, "It's not a problem for us, we bring oil from countries like Singapore and India."

They said something like, "So, it's not a problem for us if that strait is closed," and "It's not a problem if there's a conflict in Iran." But now it has become a problem.

Therefore, they said one thing before, and now they are saying another.

We know that by 2021-22, the economy collapsed massively, and fuel prices soared.

We know how much the JVP and the NPP used that situation to try and overthrow the government.

But today, people are not like that. Today, people are quietly waiting in fuel queues. People know there's a global crisis. But the solution to this crisis is not just increasing fuel prices.

So, Honorable Mr. President, as you said back then, stop imposing unlimited taxes and give the benefit of that to these innocent people.

An increase in fuel prices means an increase in the price of everything.

When that happens, fish prices go up, bakery food prices go up, three-wheeler fares go up, and car rental prices go up. We know that prices for everything, from agricultural necessities to a measure of rice, will increase.

Therefore, we kindly request you to remove the unlimited tax on fuel, as you said back then, and give that benefit to the people to bring down these prices.

Because it is due to this tax system that people are in such difficulty.

Another thing, you all said back then that if fuel prices and commodity prices are to be increased like this, there is no need for a government.

Actually, that's exactly what we have to say now. Otherwise, if there's a recording of what you all said, play it morning and evening and listen, 'There's no need for a government for something like this.'

They said back then that there's no need for a government to increase fuel prices and tax people. And also, they said all school children's equipment would be exempted from tax. But nothing has been exempted from tax until today.

What has been exempted from tax?

Therefore, this act of killing these innocent people must stop, the taxes on fuel must be removed, and justice must be done for the people. We know there's a global crisis at this time, and there's a problem with that. But the biggest problem here is boasting even when that problem exists. So, stop boasting and try to give relief to the people.

Now look, if we suddenly go and ask a minister about fuel queues, they show the logos of these two channels, Hiru and Derana, and say, "These two have the most problems."

That happens because these two channels tell the truth. Otherwise, these two don't have more problems. Those gentlemen should go to the street and see. You won't get the truth from those who blow trumpets like that.

The truth is that they don't tell the truth. That's what the washermen (dhobis) also say. They can't wash clothes stained with oil; if they wash oil, it mixes with groundwater.

Therefore, when a media institution tells the truth, it cannot be tolerated. When people tell the truth, it cannot be tolerated. Then they start slandering them. They do it by deploying slander brigades. But in the midst of all this, they don't do their job properly.

Therefore, we kindly say that what we have to say is to remove this tax and give the relief from that tax to the people.

At this moment, a poem came to my mind, I should mention that too.

Do you remember, we gathered at Hunduwe and brought in monkeys? Do you remember, we made Prince Chethiya king at Hunduwe? Do you remember, you voted for us for the Hunduwe renaissance? Fuel prices went up at Hunduwe, shall we run on water instead?

Therefore, vehicles will have to run on water in the future. If these people keep boasting and showing off like this, this government will not only fall very soon, but people's patience will also run out. Because last night, people went to sleep thinking they had to go to the fuel queue tomorrow morning. But when they go, and the fuel price has increased by another 100 rupees or so, ask the people on the street how they feel. So, you all said before not to make decisions from air-conditioned rooms. But now we say, you too, without making decisions from those rooms, go out onto the street and see the real situation."