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Fuel shortages return to cripple public transport

07 Jun 2022

  • Students and working population inconvenienced
  • Ministry official denies shortage, blames panic-pumping
BY SAFRAH FAZAL Acute fuel shortages are being experienced across the country once again as many fuel filling stations have not received adequate fuel supplies, resulting in students returning to school following the Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination break, as well as the working population, being severely inconvenienced. School transport/bus services had reduced their operations since yesterday (6) owing to the current diesel shortage forcing students to opt for public transportation, which had also severely reduced operations due to insufficient stocks of fuel. Speaking to the media yesterday, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association President Gemunu Wijeratne stated that within the next two weeks, 50% of private buses will cease to operate if the fuel limitations continue, warning: “If fuel is being limited, then private bus services will also have to be limited.” Meanwhile, Petroleum Distributors’ Association Co-secretary Kapila Naotunna said on Sunday (5) that diesel will be distributed only to selected petrol stations on a priority list due to the limited stocks of diesel. He also added that the daily distribution of diesel has been reduced to about 2,500 metric tonnes (MT). Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, All Ceylon Inter-Provincial School Children Transport Services Association Chairman Ruwan Prasad said: “Usually we require about 20 litres of fuel a day for a vehicle, so we ask the Government to make arrangements for school transport services to obtain diesel at Ceylon Transport Board (CTB) depots.” However, when contacted by The Morning yesterday, a senior official of the Ministry of Power and Energy asserted that there is no fuel shortage in the country, and that the long queues have been created by the people as a result of undue panic purchases. “We have limited the supply of fuel because people tend to use it unnecessarily.” It was reported that the next shipment of diesel under the Indian credit line is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on 16 June. Accordingly, the diesel stocks held by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will be issued in limited quantities within the next 10 days and will have to be managed until another consignment of diesel arrives on the island. The senior official stated that prior to the arrival of the fuel consignment through the Indian credit line, two other consignments of fuel are expected in the country soon. “So far, this is not confirmed, as we have not opened the relevant letters of credit (LC), but once the LCs are opened, then they will sell it.” With regard to the reduction in operations of private buses, the official stated that arrangements were already made by the Ministry for private buses to receive fuel at CTB depots. On Sunday, bus unions stated that private bus services will be operational at only 65% of their usual capacity from yesterday onwards in view of the current diesel shortage. The country has been hit by several economic issues over the past few months due to the deficit of US dollar reserves needed for imports. Over the last few months, many arrivals of stocks of fuel have been delayed due to the same and the country is facing a severe shortage of fuel. As a result, vehicle owners, including those of private buses, have to wait in long queues to refuel their vehicles.


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