• To inform COPE on alleged lack of audit probes on fuel pricing formula/hikes and related ‘frauds’ 

The Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) alleged that the Auditor General (AG) – whom they claim is in a state of slumber over audit-related matters of national importance, including those pertaining to the fuel pricing formula – is indirectly supporting large scale fraud.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, ECA Chairman Sanjeewa Dhammika claimed that consumers have been exploited through the recent fuel hike, which he termed “very unfair”. He further said: "All fuel suppliers such as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Lanka IOC (LIOC), and the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) are making exorbitant profits by selling fuel at the current prices. The fuel prices in the world market have risen only by low rates, but the Power and Energy Ministry has raised fuel prices by unaffordable rates."

Although data pertaining to the fuel pricing formula, and import and distribution of fuel, should be made available to the public as per the CPC Act, No. 28 of 1961, Dhammika said that none of those has been publicised thus far. 

He also accused the AG of not having carried out the related audits. "The former Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Chairman Janaka Ratnayake informed the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) that large scale frauds took place in the process of determining fuel prices last year (2022). However, the AG has not yet conducted an audit on the matter," he further alleged.

Emphasising that the process of determining fuel prices should be audited by the AG, Dhammika claimed that the latter is likely to have become a pawn of politicians. "It is apparent that the AG has become a pawn of politicians who make these decisions without thinking of their impact on the public. The AG is in a state of slumber over audits that are of national importance, and it amounts to an indirect support of these large-scale frauds. We have decided to inform the COPE of this matter," he stated.

Multiple attempts to contact the AGl's Office proved futile.

Leading fuel suppliers, including the CPC and the LIOC, hiked fuel prices last week, citing global market situations. Accordingly, the price of octane 92 petrol was increased by Rs. 13 to Rs. 361 per litre, octane 95 petrol by Rs. 42 to Rs. 417, auto diesel by Rs. 35 to Rs. 341, super diesel by Rs. 1 to Rs. 359, and kerosene by Rs. 5 to Rs. 231.