The first blow for the public came at midnight on Monday (9), with a substantial increase in fuel prices across the board. Private bus owners and three-wheeler operators are also demanding fare hikes in line with increased fuel prices, with bus owners warning they may resort to trade union action if their demands are not met. He recalled that he himself attended and addressed the joint press conference held by opposition parties last August to condemn Mr Wickremesinghe’s arrest. He pointed out that opposition parties first came together after the arrest of Mr Wickremesinghe last year, and the idea then came about to create an umbrella of opposition parties that will come forward during times when there are ‘national issues’. “The government is trying to make up this loss through the fuel price hike,” he charged.

Source: Sunday Times March 15, 2026 16:45 UTC