The Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners Association urged the public on Monday not to engage in panic buying of fuel, saying there was no shortage and no disruption to supplies.
Association Chairman A.M.H. Adhikari told Daily Mirror that queues seen at some filling stations were mainly because certain stations had not placed their fuel orders on time, rather than because of any failure in supply.
The commission dispute continues
Adhikari also returned to the association’s long-running complaint about transport commission rates, saying the existing formula needs revision because it does not account for transport commission charges on upcountry and southern routes.
“The association has submitted a request regarding this matter, and work is currently underway to revise the formula by incorporating the missing commission components,” he said.
The association agreed terms with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation last week after threatening disruption, with 15% granted against a 20% demand and a review period still open.
Why diesel is getting dearer
Separately, former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said a series of international developments had driven a global surge in diesel prices — unrest in the Suez Canal region and Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries among them.
He said a 40% reduction in Russia’s fuel supply to the global market, together with a complete halt in supplies from the United States, had added to the increase.
Speaking at a media briefing, Ranawaka said Sri Lanka should speed up its shift to alternative energy for power generation. “It is time for Sri Lanka to make greater use of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power, as many other countries have already done,” he said.
Not reported
Neither report says how many stations were affected by queues, how large current fuel stocks are, or whether the CPC has commented. Ranawaka did not cite a source for the supply figures he quoted.
