CB uses WB grant to settle outstanding payments for fuel shipments

By Ifham Nizam and Hiran H. Senewiratne

The government had settled all payments for ships carrying fuel, Central Bank Governor Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday.

The World Bank cash grant of USD 160 million had been utilised to clear diesel, petrol and gas shipments, the Governor said at the CEBSL Monetary policy Review meeting held at the Bank’s auditorium in Colombo.

Dr. Weerasinghe assured that by next week problems related to gas, diesel and petrol would be resolved.

Meanwhile, the officials of the Power and Energy Ministry yesterday said two ships carrying petrol were expected to commence unloading on Thursday night.

Further four ships carrying diesel and petrol would arrive here by June.

An official of the Ministry said two ships carrying diesel were scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka yesterday and on 01 June, while a ship carrying petrol are scheduled to be here today the official added.

The Minister said that with the petrol shipment arriving today and the one after three days, the petrol shortage would be resolved.