PM WARNS OF THE WORST TO COME
HIGH DEMAND BY CHINA AND INDIA HOPE ALL PARTIES WILL SHED POLITICAL DIFFERENCES
Stating that the global economic crisis is turning for the worse, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday stressed that government expected support of everyone to see the nation through it.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said this at the opening of a new building at Bandaranaike Navodya School and the opening of the new Divisional Secretariat office in Galgamuwa last morning.
“The oil prices went up initially as a result of high demand by countries such as China and India. They demanded more as their production
Some countries who have opted to stock oil had paid $ 90 a barrel while others are planning to pay $100 per barrel. These are counties which have a high export revenue. Countries such as Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan have no high export revenue
went up. Also economic sanctions imposed on Iran by USA and the high demand for oil as winter season approaches had also contributed to the crisis. US sanctions has a big impact as Iran produces 1.5 million barrels per day. On top of that economic collapse of Venezuela another oil manufacturing country has also worsened the situation. We have to face this situation” the Prime Minister said. “Some countries who have opted to stock oil had paid $ 90 a barrel while others are planning to pay $100 per barrel. These are counties which have a high export revenue. Countries such as Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan have no high export revenue. Therefore we have to increase our export earning. We have to do it as there is no other option. Government has already curtailed imports but that cannot be done continuously” he added.
“We hope all parties will shed their political differences and support the government to overcome this crisis. Anyone can criticize the government but that won’t resolve the crisis” he also said.
Further the Prime Minister reiterated that harping on oil price formula will not help at this moment. “Price formula involves unloading, storage cost, commissions of agents and other costs. There is no point in harping on it now” he said.