The JVP yesterday accused the government of distorting the truth behind the Supreme Court order to reduce the price of petrol without complying with the ruling to give relief to the public to ease the heavy burden of fuel prices.

The Supreme Court order was in the interest of the public but the government was seen to be purposefully delaying its implementation, JVP Parliamentary Group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.

"We call upon the Government to tell people whether it will reduce the petrol prices or not. Soon after the order was made the Cabinet met and said they would not reduce the price till it received the order in writing. Then the court ruling was intimated to the government this week but it delayed it for two weeks on some flimsy pretext," Dissanayake told a press conference held at the National Library Auditorium in Colombo.

"If the Cabinet of Ministers cannot understand the order, they have only to consult the Attorney General and follow his instructions, which does not take weeks," he said.

The total government revenue from taxes on petrol was Rs 4.8 billion, he said.

If the government was so concerned about the 4.8 billion revenue, why it should allocate an additional six billion for the Mihin Air project, he asked.

"If the government wants to continue with the tax imposed on petrol then it can call off the Mihin Air project. Ports and Aviation Minister has submitted a cabinet paper seeking approval to buy the Hotel Intercontinental for five billion rupees so that he could use it as his ministry. Why do they continue to waste taxpayers’ money on these projects, if they are so concerned about saving government revenue of Rs 4.8 billion?" Dissanayake asked.