Sri Lanka, Nov. 14 -- Minister Sunil Handunnetti has claimed that the recent Laugfs Gas price hike was a calculated move designed to overshadow government budget reliefs and hand the opposition a political talking point.

Speaking in Parliament today, the minister pointed out that Litro Gas commands 90% of the domestic market, filling 2 million blue cylinders monthly, whereas Laugfs fills only around 300,000 yellow cylinders.

He alleged that the company has accumulated roughly 10 billion rupees in losses and has failed to pay taxes since 2019, now attempting to shift the burden of its financial crisis onto the public.

Handunnetti argued that the timing of the price revision during the budget session was deliberate, aimed at distracting ...