The Government has devised a plan to supply fuel for the country without any shortage at fuel filling stations countrywide after July 10 this year. .
A secret cabinet paper was presented to the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday 27 specially mentioning it as confidential, informed sources revealed.
A confirmed petrol shipment is due on 22nd July, Sagala Ratnayaka, Chief of Staff of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.
He said the Government was also attempting to secure fuel shipments at an early date.
Ratnayake explained to the media the current status of the fuel situation in the country. He stated that a confirmed petrol shipment was due on the 22nd of July.
The Government was also attempting to secure fuel shipments at an early date, however, he explained until those were confirmed the details would not be released.
Sri Lanka has sought to purchase four shipments of fuel – 40,000 tonnes each- from India on cash payment terms,
India is a bulk purchaser of fuel from the global market with attractive discounts. Sri Lankan envoy to New Delhi Milinda Moragoda has presented a proposal in the road map to tie up with India to buy fuel from the world market together, to benefit from the same discounted rates.
Sri Lanka has already received US $ 700 million Indian credit lines to import fuel and the government is seeking another credit line of US $ 500 million.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s (CPC) Kolonnawa Storage Terminal temporarily halted the distribution of fuel from yesterday morning (28).
A senior CPC official confirmed that stocks of fuel would be issued from the Muthurajawela Terminal only for essential services.
As per a decision reached during last evening’s Cabinet meeting, all sheds operated by CPC will provide fuel only to essential service vehicles till 10 July, effective from midnight on Monday
Meanwhile the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) had decided to restrict their fuel sales for vehicles at filling stations from today.
The company announced that petrol will only be issued for Rs.1,500 for Motorcycles, Rs. 2,500 for three-wheelers and Rs.7,000 for Cars, Vans, Jeeps
