Trade Minister Dr.Bandula Gunawardena said in Parliament today (19) that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Cabinet Ministers and the Cost of Living Committee had all reached a joint decision on oil prices and so the Government shall defeat the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the Minister of Energy in unison.
Dr.Gunawardena made this observation joining the day one of the debate on the NCM brought by the Opposition against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila.
Minister Gunawardena also pointed out that during 2015-2016, there was a considerable profit for the government from fuel prices unlike in other years.
However, the Minister questioned what the previous Government had done to that profit and pointed out that the people were not given any relief despite the extraordinary advantages resulting from low oil prices during the Yahapalana rule.
Minister Gunawardena also pointed out that the total revenue of every post-independence Government was not sufficient to sustain the day to day running of the country.
"Minister Udaya Gammanpila is a good minister and the House needs such intelligent MPs," Dr.Gunawardena said.