With the economy in free fall and basics such as food and fuel in dangerously short supply, there is mounting public anger against a failing and desperate government in Sri Lanka.
‘Never in the history of modern Sri Lanka have its citizens queued up for hours to purchase one or two cylinders of cooking gas or a few litres of petrol or kerosene, while a wide range of other shortages continue to plague the country.
If in Ukraine civilians are dying because of the indiscriminate and inconsiderate shelling and bombing by Russian forces, in Sri Lanka they are dying on their feet, some having waited for pre-dawn hours for gas or kerosene to cook what little food they could muster to feed hungry families.
In this situation of the fuel crisis triggered by dollar shortage created by present rulers via their inconsistent policies ,the government at last has decided to stream line fuel distribution at petrol stations amidst public out cry and angry crowds waiting long queues.
The Energy Ministry has instructed the Home Affairs State Ministry to assist in monitoring the fuel distribution activities at fuel stations.
The required fuel was brought into the country despite the current FOREX crisis. Therefore, after the limited import, fuel will be supplied to identified and vital economic activities.
This fuel distribution programmes will br carried out with good management, the remaining fuel should be handed over to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) fuel stations with the intervention of the Energy Ministry.
However, the Energy Ministry pointed out that the decision was taken following several complaints received over the irregularities in the distribution of fuel to customers at filling stations.
Accordingly, the Energy Ministry has informed the Home Affairs State Ministry to implement a plan to monitor the distribution of fuel through filling stations by all District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries.
