3-member committee to probe fuel crisis: Duminda

Wednesday, 8 November 2017 00:10 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Chathuri Dissanayake

A three-member Cabinet Sub-committee has been appointed to probe into the ongoing petrol crisis at the request of Petroleum Resources Development Minister, a top Minister said yesterday. 

President Maithripala Sirisena appointed the committee yesterday to probe into the reasons which has led to the islandwide fuel supply shortage following allegations of foul play causing delays in arrival of the oil shipment for Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) which was due on 2 November, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Minister Duminda Dissanayake said.

Three Ministers – Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama and Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa – have been appointed to the committee, he said. The three Ministers have been tasked with investigating if there has been a delay in ordering the fuel consignment and the reasons for the sudden shutdown in the Sapugaskanda oil refinery. The committee will also probe how the consignment of low quality fuel came into Sri Lanka and whether adequate fuel stock were maintained.

The Minister said action would be taken against anyone found responsible for the situation.  Speaking to journalists at the weekly SLFP press briefing in Colombo yesterday, the Minister said the primary reason for the fuel crisis was the delay in the ship which was expected on 2 November, which was exacerbated by consumers panic buying.

Dissanayake also claimed that attempts by consumers to store fuel fearing the shortage would drag on had amplified the issue.  Although petrol consumption per day is around 2,500 metric tons, there has been a 50% increase in the local petrol consumption during the last two days, he said.

“But we are happy that we did not allow substantial fuel to enter the country and damage vehicles,” he said, appreciating the decision by CPC to reject a substandard oil shipment by Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC).

“It is essential to improve the storage facility even though the previous Government did not do so. The present Government has formulated plans to increase the storage facility to avoid similar shortages in the future,” the Minister said, assuring that there would not be a fuel price hike in the near future.

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