President orders Ministries to submit fuel conservation plans

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake  

• CPC coordinating sector-wise fuel allocation for food, tourism, industry and health
• Govt. moves to maintain regional reserves and ensure continuity of economic activity

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed all Ministries to implement practical, data-driven fuel conservation plans and submit reports at ministerial level without delay, as the Government moves to manage supply constraints and maintain economic activity.

The instruction was issued at a meeting held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat with a committee appointed to oversee the distribution of essential goods, the President’s Media Division said.

The President stressed that fuel management must be approached as a structured and sustainable process aimed at minimising energy consumption while ensuring uninterrupted services.

The committee, established following a prior discussion with Ministers and Ministry Secretaries, has been tasked with ensuring the continuity of both State and private sector supply chains and the availability of essential goods at stable prices.

Discussions at the meeting also focused on rising prices linked to higher fuel costs, with attention given to mechanisms to ensure that essential food items remain affordable without adversely affecting producers.

Officials said efforts are under way to assess fuel requirements across key sectors, with the Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Ministry engaging with State entities, including Sathosa, as well as private distributors and importers to compile demand data.

A coordinated allocation plan is being developed with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to ensure uninterrupted distribution of essential goods.

Sector-specific measures are also being put in place. Fuel allocations for the tourism industry are being assessed, alongside plans to continue the QR-based distribution system and ensure supplies of fuel and gas for hotels.

Fuel supply for multi-day fishing vessels and port operations is being maintained, with attention given to allocation levels, while a registration process for industrial fuel requirements has commenced under the Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry.

In agriculture, fuel distribution is being carried out based on recommendations from agricultural research officers, with discussions under way to involve farmer organisations in the process.

Authorities are also working with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to ensure fuel availability for port and airport operations, as well as for sectors operating under the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the plantation industry.

The Health and Mass Media Ministry said steps have been taken to prioritise fuel allocation for essential health services, including the transport of medicines and food supplies to hospitals.

The Government is also reviewing arrangements to maintain public transport services and manage the impact on the construction sector, with the aim of minimising disruption to the broader economy.

Officials said measures are being implemented to maintain regional fuel reserves, while the President instructed that a continuously updated data system be maintained to monitor fuel usage and enable timely intervention where required.

The meeting was attended by several Cabinet Ministers, senior officials and representatives of key institutions, including the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Sri Lanka Tourism Board.