Issuing fuel for MPS at police garage stopped: Minister

Issuing fuel for Parliamentarians at the Narahenpita Police garage was stopped from yesterday morning, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said yesterday.

He told Parliament that relevant officials were instructed to conduct an investigation for not updating the fuel dispenser at the Narahenpita Police garage for a long time.

He said social media had shared posts that fuel was issued to Parliamentarians at the police garage at Rs. 121 and refuted such allegations.

The Minister said no one had been issued fuel at lower rates than the market price. He said arrangements were made for MPS to obtain fuel at the police garage upon a request made by the Speaker to facilitate MPS to refuel during the Parliamentary week.

The Minister said fuel was issued to MPS at market price and under normal procedure upon payment made by cash. Meanwhile, heated arguments erupted in Parliament over the matter when SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana objected to allocating a separate place for MPS for refuelling.

However, some government and opposition MPS accused MP Pathirana of making such a comment, claiming that it would incite hatred among people. Parliamentarian Weerasumana Weerasekara said the MPS who were arriving from far away places find it difficult to refuel and that it was risky for them to stay in queues due to the security situation in the country.