Kerosene won’t...

A ministry spokesman said a circular was sent to all filling stations that come under the purview of CEYPETCO to refrain from issuing kerosene for commercial purposes.

“CEYPETCO sells two varieties of kerosene namely ‘Lanka Boomithel’ and Industrial Kerosene. Lanka Boomithel, coloured red for easy identification, is sold for domestic purposes of low income families for cooking and use in kerosene lamps and to fishermen at a loss of Rs.30 a litre sold. Industrial Kerosene is colourless and sold in bulk to factories. There has been a sharp increase in the use of ‘Lanka Boomithel’ in recent time thus increasing the loss incurred by CYPETCO,” he said. “CEYPETCO did a field study to determine the reason for the sharp increase in the use of ‘Lanka Boomithel’ and found that certain filling station owners are known to be selling this kerosene in large quantities to factories collecting a huge profit. It has also been revealed that an illegal and covert operation is underway to mix kerosene with diesel while bus and heavy vehicle drivers use kerosene as fuel for their vehicles. That is why the decided to put an end to this practice.”

The spokesman said Minister Ranatunga had instructed CEYPETCO officials to conduct inquiries and raids regularly to detect filling stations and fuel bowsers that mix diesel and petrol with kerosene and suspend the licenses of those found guilty of such fraud.