The Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association has decided to remove the bowsers transporting fuel from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation from midnight yesterday (15).
They are protesting against the failure to increase adequate transport fares.
Co-Secretary of the Association Shantha Silva of the Ceylon Petroleum (CPT) private tanker owners says that they have asked the CPC to increase transportation fees by 60% in the face of rising diesel prices and the appreciation of the US dollar – but they have only increased the tariff by 17% considering the increase in diesel prices.
He said that although the CPC had been informed that the increase in tariffs was not sufficient due to the increase in not only the price of diesel but also other expenses against the US dollar, there was no solution given by the CPC. He said that the decision to withdraw from the oil transport business was taken at the Central Committee meeting of his association held last evening.
About 800 private bowsers have been deployed for the CPC’s fuel transport operations and there was a decrease in the number of bowsers arriving at Kolonnawa yesterday as well. As a result, it was reported that the Ceypetco filling stations could not be refueled as scheduled yesterday.
