June 10, Colombo: The State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and Rural Economy Dilip Wedaarachchi says that the price of a kerosene liter will be reduced to 70 rupees from midnight Tuesday (12).

Addressing a media briefing today, state minister Wedaarachchi said considering the demands of the people using kerosene, including fishermen, the Treasury has decided to reduce the price of kerosene to Rs. 70 per liter.

In 2014, the price of kerosene was Rs 106 per liter and after the present government came to power, price of a liter of kerosene was reduced to Rs. 49.

With the recent revision of fuel prices due to the escalation of prices in the world market, the price of kerosene oil was increased by Rs. 57 to Rs 101 per liter.

The government raised price of kerosene since the subsidized oil given for the poor fishermen is misused. It has been reported recently that private bus owners were using kerosene oil instead of diesel.

However, the government decided to grant kerosene subsidies to low income households that do not have electricity and owners of fishing boats using kerosene.