• Decision to turn the consignment ship away was by the company

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) reassured the public that they have adequate fuel despite a ship carrying fuel meant for the country being turned away by the company that placed the order for the same.

“We have adequate supplies of fuel so we would like to tell the public not to worry,” CPC and the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited Chairperson D.J.A.S. De S. Rajakaruna said at a press conference held yesterday (12) at the Government Information Department. 

These comments follow reports of a fuel=carrying ship being turned away which sparked fears of a potential fuel shortage.

“The decision to turn (the consignment ship) away was by the company, United Petroleum, the Australian company from which it came from, and it is not by the CPC,” Rajakaruna said. “However, the CPC will always provide fuel for the citizens of this country.”

United Petroleum is an Australian petroleum company that is among the country's fuel suppliers in the form of a retail operator.

Sri Lanka experienced a fuel shortage during the economic crisis of 2022 due to a shortage of foreign reserves. This affected the country’s transportation.