Petrol distributed in a restricted manner: Minister

Sufficient diesel stocks available

● 10% of petrol distributed throughout the country

● Shipment of 2,800 MT gas received

● Litro to release 80,000 domestic gas cylinders daily from today

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera admitted yesterday that 92 octane petrol in the country is distributed in a restricted manner and stated that they hope to overcome this situation within two or three days.

Addressing the media, he said that the Ministry would be able to provide 92 Octane petrol continuously as needed for essential services in the identified areas.

However, a petrol shipment is to arrive today (18), and after three days, the petrol scarcity will be resolved.

Currently, we have sufficient stocks of diesel at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) storage, which is sufficient for the entire country, and we are hoping to end queuing up.

Meanwhile, the Ceylon Petroleum Private Bowser Owners’ Association (CPPBOA) said only 10% of petrol was distributed throughout the country yesterday.

As Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed in his official speech on Monday (16), petrol at the CPC storages had hit the bottom.

However, diesel is being distributed and the prevailing shortage will be restored in three days, the association said.

Meanwhile, with the unloading of a shipment of 2,800 MT of gas tonight, the Litro gas Lanka yesterday said that they will dispatch 80,000 cylinders of domestic gas daily to the market from today.

Litro Gas Chairman Vijitha Herath said $7 million was paid for two shipments yesterday.