• Many brawls erupt countrywide, and one succumbed 
• Three-wheel mafia took over operations of a filling station in Marine Drive
• Motorists change license plates to obtain fuel as per the last digit number and some fix larger capacity tanks or jerrycans in vehicles to get extra fuel
• Fuel Station Owners’ Association President Kumar Rajapaksa says CPC has limited fuel dispatch from Muthurajawela despite having sufficient stocks
• Stakeholders propose to have separate filling stations allocated for three-wheelers and motorcycles to keep troublemakers and black market sellers in check
• Argues the rationale for introducing a QR system if anyone can simply bribe the pumper and get a full tank
• Calls on to tally scanned QRs with issued quantity before delivering the next order to end the mafia

By Charumini de Silva

Lack of proper implementation of fuel distribution yesterday led to tense situations at countrywide filling stations, whilst a large number of motorists were seen waiting in anticipation. 

An individual was murdered after stealing petrol from a motorcycle at a fuel queue in Castle Street, Borella, while the three-wheel mafia took over the management of a State-run CEYPETCO filling station in Marine Drive, Bambalapitiya yesterday. A LIOC staffer was assaulted by a group of people for not issuing fuel beyond the stipulated quota of fuel at a filling station in Bandarawela.

The three-wheel mafia threatened the workers of Marine Drive, Bambalapitiya and ordered only to pump fuel worth Rs. 5,000 though the stipulated quota as per the Energy Ministry is Rs. 7,000.

Tense situations were reported from around the country such as Colombo, Negombo, Badulla, Haputale, Bandarawela, and Hemmathagama, as certain stations had no fuel to distribute, despite the pilot national initiative and the last digit of the vehicle’s license plate in place.

It was reported that many motorists have changed their license plate to obtain fuel as per the last digit number allocated for specific dates, while some individuals have fixed larger capacity tanks or jerrycans in vehicles with an ulterior motive of getting extra fuel.

Separately, Fuel Station Owners’ Association President Kumar Rajapaksa said the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has limited the fuel dispatch from Muthurajawela, despite having sufficient stocks.

“We have been informed that the CPC has sufficient stocks at present. Not all filling stations are getting petrol and diesel. However, those receiving stocks are being informed via the website,” he added.

Various stakeholders called on the Government to first release the daily fuel distribution list, as it would avoid crowd gathering at filling stations, insisting that it was extremely frustrating to queue up and wait for days when no fuel bowsers come.

They argued the rationale for introducing a QR system was if anyone can simply bribe the pumper and fill the full tank. 

“The CPC must tally scanned QR’s with issued quantity before delivering the next order. This mafia is a collective effort of filling station owners, thugs, Police, and military forces,” they told the Daily FT on anonymity.

Many claimed that the three-wheel mafia has taken over the fuel distribution completely, adding that if the Government could break it, there will be some improvement.

They also proposed that having separate filling stations allocated for three-wheelers and motorcycles will help in keeping trouble makers and black market sellers in check. 

Some of the motorists suggested providing full tank fuel as per the QR system for the entire month, which will enable people to discipline their movement and avoid congestion at filling stations or to allocate separate days for petrol and diesel distribution.

National Fuel Pass heads bumpy road