The protest was led by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and the UNP activists protested against the government's failure to convene parliament to discuss the price hikes and its impact on the economy. Wickremasinghe told the media that the protests and the death of a fisherman in Chilaw during a protest could have been avoided if the government had convened parliament and resolved the issues. Addressing the parliament, the Opposition Leader has said that the government has not given a proper reason to impose a fuel price hike at this time as world oil prices have not risen enough for the government to increase prices of fuel. In response to Wickremasinghe's statements, the Minister of Petroleum Industries Susil Premajayantha has said that the world crude oil prices have increased due to sanctions that have been imposed on Iran and devaluation of rupee has caused the fuel prices to increase. Oil prices rose to a nine-month high above $105 a barrel on Monday after Iran said it halted crude exports to Britain and France. Meanwhile, UNP councilors in the Western Provincial Council today traveled to attend the Council sessions in bicycles protesting against the fuel price hike. The UNP councilors cycled to the Provincial Council premises in Battaramulla from the Koswatte junction in Nawala. They shouted anti-government slogans while cycling to the Provincial Council. Members of the Central Provincial Council also protested today near the Pallekele Provincial Council meeting hall, media reports said. The protestors wearing black bands carried placards and called the government to provide relief to the people.
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