Sri Lanka government says it is yet to receive the court order

Managing Director of the LIOC, KR Suresh Kumar, told BBC Sandeshaya that the company already received the Supreme Court order issued on Wednesday.

“In line with the direction of the honourable Supreme Court the same is being implemented from tonight. The Supreme Court order was given only today so we consulted the lawyers and we have obeyed the order of the Supreme Court and it is being done now,” he said.

Sri Lanka Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the government to reduce the price of petrol to Rs. 100 per litre while the price of the barrel of oil remains 42 US dollars in the world markets.

Order 'already dispacthed'

The court made the order after the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) presented a new price formula.

The court dismissed an earlier formula by the CPC which proposed to impose 180 percent tax on fuel.

In line with the direction of the honourable Supreme Court the same is being implemented from tonight. The Supreme Court order was given only today so we consulted the lawyers and we have obeyed the order of the Supreme Court and it is being done now LIOC Managing Director, KR Suresh Kumar

Noting that the benefit of the price reduction should pass on to the consumers, the CPC was ordered not to exceed 75 percent of tax.

The order was made after considering a petition against controversial hedging deals signed by the former CPC chairman, Asntha de Mel.

The government, however, is yet to implement the order on the grounds that it is yet to receive the written directive from the court.

Cabinet spokesman, Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa told the journalists on Friday that the government is yet to receive a copy of the order.

He did not say whether the government is to reduce the price of oil according to the court order.

The Registrar of the Supreme Court told BBC Sandeshaya that copies of the directive were sent to the Presidential Secretariat, Finance Ministry and the CPC on Thursday night.