Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), J.D. Rajakaruna, has refuted reports suggesting that a fuel shipment was turned away, threatening Sri Lanka’s fuel supply.
Addressing a government media briefing Rajakaruna clarified that a United Petroleum shipment of 30,000 metric tonnes of fuel arrived in Sri Lanka on December 2 but left without offloading due to internal issues.
“They have sufficient stocks for distribution for approximately two more weeks. We have held discussions with relevant parties and confirmed that CPC fuel will be distributed to their sheds,” Rajakaruna said, adding that the CPC, as a government entity, takes full responsibility for ensuring a steady fuel supply.
“This shipment carried 15,000 metric tonnes of petrol and 15,000 metric tonnes of diesel,” Rajakaruna said.
He stressed that the shipment was not linked to the CPC and its departure would not impact the country’s fuel reserves.
In 2022, Sri Lanka awarded retail fuel licenses to three foreign firms—China’s Sinopec, Australia’s United Petroleum, and the US based RM Parks—as part of efforts to ease the CPC’s burden of securing foreign currency for the country’s fuel imports. (Islandnews)
