The sum effect of the government’s disrespect for Judicial directives, was that the tax burden heaped on the people has increased further, the UNP said yesterday.

General Secretary of the UNP, Tissa Attanayake told a news conference in Colombo that the government’s total disregard for the Supreme Court order on the CPC to reduce the price of petrol from Rs.122 to Rs.100 a litre, has resulted in the oil hedging contracts becoming operative and the CPC having to pay the banks billions of rupees. "The monies as usual would be found by taxing the people further. This would mean, more burdens being heaped on the poor,who are already struggling to survive due to the high cost of living."

The Court directive on petrol pricing, was very fair considering the world market price of oil,but the government without providing much needed relief for the people, was making silly remarks, tantamounts to contempt of court, he said.

Attanayake said that due to the government’s disrespect for judicial directives, the Supreme Court was forced to vacate all the interim orders issued on several fundamental rights petitions challenging the CPC’s refusal to reduce the price of petrol, in accordance with its actual cost.

While saluting and thanking the security forces and police for defeating the LTTE, he said that all their efforts would be of no avail, if the democratic rights of the Northern people are not restored. "It is imperative that an environment where the people can live in peace and with dignity, is created speedily."