Monday Mar 23, 2026
Monday Mar 23, 2026
Monday, 23 March 2026 04:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Fuel prices were increased across suppliers following the latest revision by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), which came into effect from midnight on 21 March, with Sinopec and Lanka IOC (LIOC) also adjusting prices.
CPC raised the price of Lanka White Diesel by Rs. 79 to Rs. 382 per litre and Super Diesel by Rs. 90 to Rs. 443. Octane 95 petrol was increased by Rs. 90 to Rs. 455 per litre, while Octane 92 petrol rose by Rs. 81 to Rs. 398.
Sinopec announced higher prices for the same categories, with Octane 95 petrol increased by Rs. 122 to Rs. 487 per litre and Super Diesel by Rs. 219 to Rs. 572. Octane 92 petrol and Auto Diesel were increased by Rs. 81 and Rs. 79 to Rs. 398 and Rs. 382 per litre, respectively, in line with CPC levels.
LIOC also revised its prices in line with CPC adjustments.
In addition, CPC increased the price of Lanka Kerosene by Rs. 60 to Rs. 255 per litre.
With the earlier increase, Super Diesel prices have increased 35%, Octane 95 petrol by 33%, Octane 92 petrol by 36%, and Kerosene by 40%.
The last the country experienced a sharp spike in fuel prices was during the 2022 economic crisis, when prices more than doubled within months as subsidies were removed. Octane 92 petrol rose from around Rs. 192 at the start of the year to a peak of about Rs. 470 by June, while diesel increased from around Rs. 169 to about Rs. 460, reflecting a shift towards cost-reflective pricing amid severe foreign exchange shortages.
Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament last week that unlike 2022, the country had enough dollars this time round, but global fuel supplies have been constricted due to the Middle East crisis.
