By: Staff Writer
February 27, Colombo (LNW): The first US-based RM Parks’ Shell fuel station opened in Sri Lanka on Wednesday at the BS Cooray Filling Station, in Ambatale.The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung declared open the fuel station.
“Proud to join the opening of the first California-based RM Parks’ Shell fuel station in Sri Lanka, with 150 stations planned. This investment adds a reliable fuel provider to the market and makes America and Sri Lanka more prosperous. Diversifying fuel suppliers will help avoid the fuel shortages that caused Sri Lanka’s 2022 fuel crisis,” the Ambassador said.
She said the opening highlights Sri Lanka’s openness to foreign investment and to maintaining a level playing for all businesses.
“This opening is great for all Sri Lankan drivers: motorcyclists, car drivers, tuk drivers, truck drivers. Adding competitors to the markets gives them more quality and product options. And the convenience stores will provide snack and essentials to a society increasingly on the go,” she added.
The Ambassador said that in alignment with US President Trump’s vision of making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous, the event in Sri Lanka reinforces the United States as a global energy leader.
She said that by investing in Sri Lanka’s energy infrastructure, the US is not only strengthening supply chains, but also advancing the ties that bind the two nations.
This ceremony opens an exciting new chapter in Sri Lanka’s energy sector—a partnership that brings together RM Parks, a renowned American family company with a rich history in fuel distribution, and Shell, a name synonymous with quality and innovation! .
It is the grand opening of the first RM Parks and Tristar-fueled, Shell branded fuel shed in Sri Lanka in over six decades. This event is not merely the inauguration of a service station; it is the rekindling of a relationship.,she added.
Half a century ago, Shell fuel sheds were a familiar sight across this beautiful island. The Shell emblem stood as a beacon of quality and trust, symbolizing progress and connection.
And RM Parks began as a small operation in Porterville, California, in 1969 when RM Parks and his wife Clarice made the bold decision to purchase a fuel business and build it from the ground up.
Their journey embodies the essence of the American Dream – starting with humble beginnings and growing into a thriving, multi-generational enterprise through hard work, perseverance and a commitment to building strong relationships with both employees and customers.
Today RM Parks is a three-generation family business, rooted in a small farming town in California. It’s a true American entrepreneurial story — farmers who entered the fuel business, then grew a family and a company at the same time.
RM Parks’ grandchildren grew up riding in trucks with their fathers, making fuel deliveries to farmers. The fuel powered the farms and businesses that are the backbone of American prosperity.
RM Parks now serves more than 240 locations across California, continuing to honor its legacy of excellence. This partnership with Shell is not just a business venture; it’s an example of how American ingenuity and values can drive innovation and create lasting impact—both locally and globally.
The collaboration between RM Parks and Shell is a testament to the enduring bonds between the United States and Sri Lanka. It reflects our shared commitment to fostering economic growth, enhancing energy security, and building prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
In alignment with President Trump’s vision of making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous, today’s event reinforces the United States as a global energy leader. By investing in Sri Lanka’s energy infrastructure, we are not only strengthening supply chains, but also advancing the ties that bind our two nations.
It also highlights Sri Lanka’s openness to foreign investment and to maintaining a level playing for all businesses. This opening is great for all Sri Lankan drivers: motorcyclists, car drivers, tuk drivers, truck drivers.
Adding competitors to the markets gives them more quality and product options. And the convenience stores will provide snack and essentials to a society increasingly on the go.
