CPC announces two day-diesel shortage

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) on Tuesday (29) announced that there would be a diesel shortage in the country on Wednesday and Thursday (31).

“We were unable to unload 37,500 tonnes of diesel shipment as planned on Tuesday. Therefore, we request the public not to queue up at filling stations for diesel on 30 and 31 March,” CPC Chairman Sumith Wijesinghe told the media.

Wijesinghe said that the remaining stocks of diesel would only be issued to essential services.

Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Commission announced that there will be 10-hour daily power cuts from Wednesday (30.)

Sri Lanka has been facing power cuts since February due to receding water levels in hydro power reservoirs as well as fuel shortage, which has affected the thermal power plants.

Issuing a statement, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said that they were “compelled to take demand management measures due to inadequate power generation, as a result of fuel shortage and unavailability of generators.”