SriLanka, Sept. 28 -- Due to the surge in global market fuel prices, the government has allocated Rs. 41 billion to provide relief for the next three months without passing the price increase on to the public.

With the onset of the Middle East crisis, prices for all types of petroleum products rose rapidly in March 2026. Rather than passing this increase entirely onto the public, the government absorbed a portion of the burden by providing a concession of Rs.100 per liter of diesel and Rs. 20 per liter of petrol for April, May, and June.

The government spent Rs.57 billion for this purpose. In terms of diesel, global market prices, which had spiked by 115% in March compared to February of this year, dropped back down to a 39% increase by...