Diesel shortage persists

Diesel was in short supply, CPC has begun fuel distribution, Kumara Rajapakshe, Chairman of the Gas Station Owners’ Association, said yesterday.He added that a number of gas stations were now closed temporarily due to fuel shortages.

Due to the diesel shortage, fewer than 50% buses were operational on Thursday, Sri Lanka Private Bus Operators Association (LPBOA) head, Gemunu Wijerathne, said.

“A number of private buses have been parked near SLTB depots for three days. Depot managers claim they have not received diesel and they are finding it hard to run SLTB buses,” he said.

Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera said that the diesel shortage would end soon as the CPC had received 70,000 metric tons of fuel on Thursday night. “The shortages will be over in a day or two. We are also receiving a petrol shipment on Saturday. The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery will also start processing petrol by the end of the week,” he said.