President directs quicker streamlined fuel distribution

Monday, 25 July 2022 00:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Ranil Wickremesinghe

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the relevant officials to accelerate and regularise the islandwide fuel distribution process.

The President gave these instructions during a discussion held at the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday on the fuel issue and its next steps. There was a wide-ranging discussion regarding regularising and expediting the distribution of fuel needed for private and government buses used for public transportation, as well as fuel needed for education, fishing, tourism and agriculture sectors.

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha drew the attention of the President regarding the provision of necessary transportation facilities for the school children as the schools will be opened throughout the island from next Monday. Accordingly, President instructed the Minister of Transport to issue fuel for buses and vans transporting school children from 3 p.m. today at all Sri Lanka Transport Board depots (SLTB) across the island.

According to the previous system, it was decided to issue fuel from SLTB depots and at the three armed forces camps all over the island for agricultural activities including fertiliser distribution, fishing, tourism as well as for public transport activities.

Attention was also paid to the smuggling of fuel obtained from fuel stations and selling at higher prices. The President instructed the Police to expand raids and strictly enforce the law against the individuals and groups involved in black marketing.

The implementation of the introduced QR code system was also discussed. There was also a long discussion between President, officials of the Finance Ministry and the State banks on fuel procurement and the provision of the necessary funds for purchase of fuel.

Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Bandula Gunawardena, Mahinda Amaraweera, Ali Sabri, Kanchana Wijesekera, Tiran Alles, MP Nimal Lanza, Presidential Adviser Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake and Secretaries of line Ministries, senior officials of the President’s Office, the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank were present at this discussion.