SL hikes kerosene prices to cut losses

Colombo, Aug 22 (IANS) Amid the continuing economic crisis, Sri Lanka's state-owned fuel distributor Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has hiked the price of kerosene to cut losses.The hike took effect on Sunday midnight, reports Xinhua news agencyIssuing a statement, the CPC said the price of a liter of kerosene increased by 253 LKR ($0.7) to 340 LKR.Kerosene is used among several vulnerable communities and was earlier sold at a subsidized rate of 87 LKR.Last month, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera told Parliament that they planed to raise the price of kerosene and give a subsidy to low-income groups.He said that the cost to produce a liter of kerosene is 421 LKR.Selling kerosene at a subsidized rate is one of the main reasons why the CPC makes a loss, the Minister said.
--IANS ksk/

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