The decision made to increase the price of fuel was done collaboratively with the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) as one of the solutions for the dollar crisis the country is currently facing said Co-cabinet spokesperson Dullas Alahapperuma. He made this statement during a media brief held today (21). "It is no secret that the dollar reserves have declined substantially. The living standard of the general public is affected. The decision to increase the price of fuel was made together with the Finance Ministry and the CBSL, and was done as one solution for the dollar crisis. The Finance Ministry, the CBSL and the Petroleum corporation are on the same stance that fuel consumption should be managed. We all understand that this is not favourable for the economy," said Alahapperuma Alahapperuma went on to say that when Mangala Samaraweera introduced the fuel price formula, opposition MPs criticised and ridiculed it, adding that the value of the formula is now evident. "It is not a secret that the price formula would have been favourable to both sides in such an instance of a price change," he concluded.