The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka

¶ 01 On your question whether a supplier who failed to honour a term tender later supplied through a spot tender, I clearly stated in answer to Question No. 2 that in April 2026 a supply was cancelled due to Verrington UAE. That is the only such instance recorded in this period. As I said earlier, if you specifically name a supplier you allege violated a term tender but then supplied through a spot tender, I can verify precisely with dates. Based on data I have, there is no such case. Various claims circulate publicly, but as responsible representatives we should raise questions based on concrete information.

¶ 02 On your policy point: our policy statement is our promise to the people. If you cite the precise page you claim we are not following, I can clarify. You asked why we are not giving certain concessions now. You correctly noted the war situation in the Middle East has pushed prices above expectations. We are not placing the full burden on consumers. For example, if we strictly applied the formula now, a litre of diesel would be around Rs. 750. We currently sell at Rs. 410. The Treasury bears about Rs. 100 per litre on diesel, amounting to about Rs. 15 billion. For petrol, the Treasury bears about Rs. 20 per litre as a subsidy.

¶ 03 Also, sector companies sometimes have profits in some months and losses in others. We expect them to plan so they do not incur a loss over the full year, absorbing part of the pressure—along with the Government—so that the entire Middle East war-induced burden is not passed to consumers. That is how a responsible Government acts.