<ul><li>Fear mounts over possible delay in 25,000 MT urea shipment due from Oman in early April</li><li>Existing fertiliser stocks sufficient for initial phase of Yala season: Deputy Minister</li><li>Farmers ask how 25,000-30,000 MT of urea will be sufficient when 120,000 MT needed</li></ul> Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector faces renewed uncertainty as a crucial fertiliser shipment expected in April hangs in the balance amid escalating global tensions, raising concerns over supply stability and rising costs ahead of the Yala cultivation season.Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne said a vessel carrying approximately 25,000 MT of urea from Oman – imported to Sri Lanka through India – was scheduled to arrive in early April but warned that geopolitical developments, particularly disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, could delay its arrival.&nbsp;“A shipment of close to 25,000 MT is expected. However, given the current geopolitical situation, arrival schedules remain uncertain,” he told The Sunday Morning.The warning comes as global shipping routes, including the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, face severe disruption. With nearly a third of sea-borne fertiliser shipments passing through the strait, any prolonged instability could significantly impact supply chains to import-dependent countries like Sri Lanka.Despite the risks, Karunaratne insisted that there was no immediate fertiliser shortage. Noting that existing stocks were sufficient for the initial phase of the Yala season, particularly for the first application of urea in paddy cultivation, he said: “We have adequate quantities for now. Any issue would arise during the second stage, but we expect the shipment to arrive on time. There is a 90% probability it will,” he said.According to the National Fertilizer Secretariat, around 30,000 MT of urea has already been released to the market, with a further 68,000 MT in reserve. Stocks of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) and Muriate of Potash (MOP) stand at approximately 30,000 MT each.Additional shipments are planned to bridge the gap. Officials expect 25,000 MT of urea in early April, a further 25,000 MT by around 10 April, and about 15,000 MT of MOP by the month’s end. Sri Lanka has sufficient stock of TSP at the moment, according to the National Fertilizer Secretariat.However, agricultural experts and farmer organisations warn that official assurances may not reflect ground realities.National Farmers’ Union Chairman Anuradha Tennakoon claimed that only a fraction of available stocks was reaching farmers, arguing that effective market supply was far below national requirements.“When 450,000 hectares require around 120,000 MT of urea, how can 25,000–30,000 MT be sufficient?” he asked, warning of potential protests if shortages persisted.Academics echo these concerns. University of Peradeniya Department of Agriculture Senior Professor Buddhi Marambe noted that total fertiliser demand across crops exceeded current stock levels and cautioned that global supply shocks could further strain availability.“One-third of sea-shipped fertiliser passes through the Strait of Hormuz. That is a serious vulnerability,” he said.Meanwhile, prices are already under pressure. Karunaratne warned that global fuel and import cost increases were likely to drive fertiliser prices higher in the Maha season.In response, the Government has stepped up intervention, moving to acquire 65% of privately held fertiliser stocks and expand State distribution channels, after accusing private firms of delaying market supply.Under the current pricing mechanism, the State purchases fertiliser at Rs. 9,500 per bag and distributes it to farmers at a capped price not exceeding Rs. 11,000, significantly below private market rates of Rs. 15,000–18,000.Authorities have also urged farmers to avoid panic buying, warning that it fuels price spikes and distorts supply.As Sri Lanka heads into a critical cultivation period, the timing of a single shipment – and the stability of global supply routes – may prove decisive for the country’s food security in the months ahead.&nbsp;

Fertiliser supplies: Shipment uncertainties raise alarm over Yala season

<ul><li>Emergency tender for 3 months awarded to Taranjot Resources of India</li><li>Shipments from Trident still ongoing, rejected consignments notwithstanding</li></ul> The emergency tender that was moved to procure coal stocks in response to quality concerns over the coal supplies procured under the previous term tender process has been officially awarded to Taranjot Resources of India following a Cabinet decision. Five shipments carrying a total of 300,000 MT of coal are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka shortly, according to a senior official at the Energy Ministry.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Energy Ministry Secretary Udayanga Hemapala said: “The emergency tender has now been officially awarded. Through this, we are expecting to receive five ships carrying a total of 300,000 MT of coal.”He also noted that the previous term tender remained in operation, but said that several consignments had been rejected due to quality issues. “The previous tender is still continuing. However, the first, ninth, and 11th shipments were rejected due to the supply of substandard coal. We are expecting approximately 20 shipments under this tender,” Hemapala explained.The emergency procurement process was initiated to ensure supply continuity, allowing for a temporary deviation from standard tender procedures over a three-month period.&nbsp;The move was driven not by a shortage of coal in the global market, but by quality concerns linked to previous deliveries, according to Deputy Minister of Energy Arkam Ilyas. “The core issue we faced was the receipt of substandard coal from the previous supplier, which directly necessitated the initiation of an emergency tender,” he explained.Under the arrangement, the Government will procure approximately 300,000 MT of coal, equivalent to five shipments from Taranjot Resources, with the company furnishing the required performance bond, enabling the procurement process to proceed.The development follows repeated shortcomings by the previous supplier, Trident Chemphar, which operated under a term tender but failed to consistently meet delivery schedules and quality standards.The procurement is taking place amid heightened volatility in global energy markets. Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have increased shipping risks, with insurance coverage in certain zones becoming more restrictive, contributing to fluctuations in freight costs and the final landed price of coal.Responding to concerns over potential supply disruptions, Deputy Minister Ilyas said coal deliveries to the Norochcholai power plant were continuing without interruption. “This is not to say we are not facing challenges, as the Norochcholai plant experienced numerous breakdowns last year and we cannot entirely guarantee its mechanical reliability. However, coal supply remains continuous, with another shipment arriving as recently as Friday (27),” he said.Ilyas added that the primary vulnerability in the system remained the plant’s mechanical reliability rather than fuel availability, with authorities focusing on maintaining operational stability.The latest developments come amid ongoing concerns that substandard coal supplied by Trident Chemphar may be affecting both electricity generation and public health.In response, the Cabinet of Ministers approved an emergency procurement of 300,000 MT of coal for the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai, along with a temporary deviation from standard procurement procedures to secure supplies over a three-month period. The decision, initially approved on 26 January, provides for the procurement of 300,000 MT (±10%) of coal in five shipments for the Norochcholai coal-fired power plant.Technical analysis by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has indicated that the plant now requires a higher coal feed rate to maintain output, resulting in increased flue gas volumes and a corresponding rise in pollutant formation.&nbsp;

Coal supplies: Five shipments of 300,000 MT secured under emergency tender

<ul><li>CEB cites Rs. 15.8 b revenue gap to justify hike proposal</li><li>Past debts will not be passed on to consumers: PUSCL Chairman</li></ul> The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) is set to announce its final determination on electricity tariff revisions tomorrow (30).The determination will be made following a review of a proposal submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which has requested a uniform tariff increase of 13.56% across all consumer categories for the April-June quarter, PUCSL Chairman Prof. Lalith Chandralal said.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, he said that the CEB had justified the proposed increase by projecting a revenue shortfall of Rs. 15.8 billion for the period, with estimated operational costs of Rs. 136.5 billion against expected revenue of Rs. 116.9 billion under existing tariffs.&nbsp;The PUCSL is currently evaluating the submission to determine whether tariffs should be increased, reduced, or maintained.The final decision on tariffs is expected following a meeting of commission members scheduled for tomorrow (30). The regulator has been conducting a detailed assessment of the financial data submitted by the CEB, including requesting additional clarifications where necessary.“The proposed tariff revision is currently under active discussion within the commission. It is our responsibility to scrutinise the submitted figures carefully. We are still in the review process and have requested further clarifications from the CEB. The commission will meet on Monday, and we expect to reach a final decision at that stage,” he explained.The proposed tariff increase has drawn public attention, particularly regarding whether historical debts and financial losses incurred by the CEB would be transferred to consumers through higher tariffs. Prof. Chandralal rejected this possibility.“I can confidently say that past accumulated debts and historical financial deficits will not be considered or included in the calculation for the upcoming tariff revision,” he said.Addressing concerns over potential electricity shortages linked to global fuel and coal supply uncertainties, Prof. Chandralal said that no immediate disruptions to power supply were anticipated and that the PUCSL had not received any proposal related to the matter from the authorities.“We do not foresee any immediate risk of power outages at this moment. The stability of the grid over the coming months will depend on maintaining a continuous supply of diesel and coal, but based on current conditions, there will be no scheduled power cuts,” he said.Speaking further, he said that global fuel price volatility linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions had added complexity to the tariff-setting process. While these external factors directly influence the cost of electricity generation, the regulator may be required to proceed without a stable medium-term outlook on energy prices.“We have requested detailed information on the impact of rising global fuel prices. However, given the volatility of the situation, it is unlikely that we will have a fully stable forecast before making our final decision,” he noted.He further clarified that the upcoming revision was part of the routine quarterly pricing mechanism rather than a response to recent supply-side developments.“As part of the established regulatory framework, we carry out tariff revisions every quarter. These adjustments may result in either increases or reductions, in line with the structural benchmarks agreed with the International Monetary Fund. This is the standard revision process for the second quarter,” he said.While the CEB has proposed a 13.56% increase, the PUCSL emphasised that the final outcome may differ following regulatory review.“The final decision will be made collectively by the commission. We request the public to await the official announcement on Monday (30),” Prof. Chandralal added.Concerns have been raised over a drastic increase in electricity tariffs by several parties, owing to current dry weather conditions, substandard coal, and a high dependency on diesel. With the shortage of naphtha, the power supply has become increasingly reliant on diesel-powered generation, according to officials.&nbsp;

Electricity tariffs: Decision on 13.56% hike tomorrow

<ul><li>No immediate tariff revision despite electricity price uncertainty</li><li>New treatment projects underway; completion may take up to 3 years</li></ul> In spite of the prevailing dry weather conditions, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) claims that Sri Lanka’s existing water reserves are sufficient to maintain supply for the next three to four months without imposing water cuts or restrictions, even with heightened demand.NWSDB Chairman Chandana Bandara told The Sunday Morning that while water availability was stable at present, the surge in demand and consumption caused by the current drought situation was the main challenge. He cautioned that water consumption had increased significantly due to the prevailing dry weather.“Water is available. Our production is very limited, even though we are operating at our maximum capacity,” he said, noting that all treatment plants islandwide were currently operating at full capacity and that the issue was not a shortage of water, but increased demand.Bandara emphasised that production could not be increased beyond existing levels.&nbsp;In the Colombo District, the three water treatment plants – Ambatale, Labugama, and Kalatuwawa – are operating at maximum capacity. Ambatale produces 560,000 cubic metres per day, while Labugama and Kalatuwawa collectively produce 150,000 cubic metres per day.With production capacity limited, Bandara stated that some areas could experience low water pressure, particularly at the endpoints of the distribution network. He also identified Maharagama, Kottawa, Pannipitiya, Piliyandala, Panadura, and Wadduwa as areas in the Western Province that could be most affected by low water pressure.The Chairman said that no decision had been taken to revise water tariffs, even if electricity tariffs were to increase. “Water tariffs are usually considered twice a year. As of now, no changes have been made, and we are maintaining the same prices,” Bandara assured.Looking ahead, the NWSDB intends to expand its capacity, including an additional treatment facility in Ambatale with a capacity of 50,000 cubic metres per day, along with the Kalu Ganga project with a capacity of 136,000 cubic metres per day, according to Bandara.“However, both of these projects are still at the procurement stage and are expected to take around two-and-a-half to three years to complete,” he acknowledged.According to Bandara, seawater intrusion, which typically increases with higher temperatures and reduced river flow, is currently under control, with the Kelani River being closely monitored.“So far, salinity intrusion has not affected the intake at Ambatale, and we do not expect the situation to worsen within the next month. However, as a temporary solution, we have installed a strategic sandbag barrier across the Ambatale water intake,” he noted, adding that the barrier was expected to minimise the risk of salinity intrusion.Bandara further urged the public to use water responsibly and avoid wastage, particularly for non-essential activities such as gardening and vehicle washing, amid the ongoing drought conditions.&nbsp;Addressing the media, he called on the public to use water sparingly and warned that if the dry weather persisted, water distribution may have to be limited.

Drought conditions: No water cuts, but low pressure due to high demand: NWSDB

<ul><li>Emissions within limits despite higher ash generation: CEA&nbsp;</li><li>Experts warn of sulphur and mercury risks, citing visible health symptoms</li></ul> Contradictions have emerged between environmental advocates and State authorities over the potential of an ecological and public health crisis surrounding the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai due to the use of substandard coal supplies.When asked by The Sunday Morning whether any assessment had been carried out on the environmental impact of the substandard coal, Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Director General Kapila Rajapaksha maintained that there was currently no evidence of environmental discharge exceeding safety limits.While acknowledging that the amount of ash generated was indeed high, he insisted that the plant’s mitigation systems remained effective.“The absorption capacity is double the current load being generated,” Rajapaksha said, asserting that pollutants had not been released into the environment. He added that the CEA continued to monitor stack emissions and ambient air quality through established systems.According to reports received by the CEA a week ago, tests for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides indicated that levels were within ambient air quality standards and had not increased to a harmful level, he said.&nbsp;Rajapaksha further noted that the North Western Provincial Environmental Authority was the primary oversight body and was working closely with the power plant to monitor the situation.However, environmentalists remain sceptical of these assurances, pointing to visible physical discomfort – including eye irritation among residents near the plant – as a possible indicator of ongoing sulphur pollution.Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) Chairman Hemantha Withanage raised concerns over the high ash and chemical content in the current coal stocks. Describing coal as “the world’s dirtiest energy source,” he said that while public discourse often focused on carbon dioxide, the more immediate danger lay in sulphur and mercury emissions.According to Withanage, the standard allowable ash content for coal in Sri Lanka is typically around 11%, whereas the current batch contains between 21% and 25%. He warned that this excessive ash load could overwhelm the plant’s Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP), leading to the release of fine particulate matter into the atmosphere.He also highlighted the long-term risks of mercury exposure, claiming that its effects were already evident in the region: “Mercury accumulates in human hair and nails. Several years ago, following the establishment of the Norochcholai power plant, we tested people who consume fish from the Puttalam Lagoon, particularly women, and found high levels. Therefore, the current situation is very dangerous and should be taken seriously.”He explained that mercury evaporated at high temperatures during combustion and could enter the food chain.Withanage further criticised the decision to continue using the coal on the basis that payments had already been made, describing the justification as “a foolish argument”.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment stated that appropriate action would be taken if any adverse environmental impact was detected. Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody said that the primary concern related to the sulphur content of the coal. “If an environmental impact arises from this, appropriate measures will be taken. It needs to be discussed with the CEA,” he said.According to a report by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), submitted to the parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, the current coal supply has significantly worsened environmental performance compared to the previous supplier.Emissions have risen sharply, with sulphur dioxide increasing by up to 452% and nitrogen-based pollutants also recording significant spikes. This is largely due to the need to burn more coal to generate the same level of electricity.Solid waste has also increased considerably, with fly ash output more than doubling, raising both environmental and operational concerns. The report attributes these impacts to lower fuel efficiency, noting that the plant now requires more coal per unit of electricity, resulting in higher emissions and increased waste generation.&nbsp;

Substandard coal: Pollution alarm triggered, officials say ‘no risk’ yet

Civil society groups and the Government have once again reached an impasse over the recently enacted Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Act, with fresh disagreements emerging over the recognition and regulation of community-based savings and credit service providers.&nbsp;The Government meanwhile maintains that there is time to review and address issues before operationalising the legislation.Tensions surfaced following a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday (26), attended by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations Chairperson MP Lakmali Hemachandra, alongside representatives of community-based financial collectives and civil society representatives.The discussion focused on the long-standing crisis faced by victims of microfinance lending and the implications of the new law for community-led credit systems. While the Government signalled openness to further engagement, participants described the meeting as inconclusive.Suneth Aruna Kumara, representing the National Collective of Community-Based Savings and Credit Service Providers, expressed dissatisfaction with the Government’s approach, stating that authorities appeared disconnected from the realities of community finance.“We left the meeting with great frustration,” he said, alleging that officials had spoken as though community funds were not significant enough to be recognised within a formal legal framework. He also criticised what he described as a lack of awareness of such systems, despite their long-standing role in poverty alleviation.Kumara further raised concerns over the Government’s request for the collective to generate data and conduct surveys, arguing that such responsibilities should fall within the State’s mandate. He also questioned assurances that concerns would be addressed during the regulatory drafting phase, noting that no clear solutions had been presented.The collective had also sought exemption from the provisions of the new act. However, according to Kumara, the Government’s response – that implementation could take up to two years and that adjustments may be considered during the regulatory drafting stage – lacked clarity and assurance.He added that the discussions had failed to yield concrete solutions, noting that previous engagements had similarly not resulted in meaningful progress.Researcher and feminist political economist Amali Wedagedara, who also participated in the meeting, expressed strong dissatisfaction with both the timing and conduct of the meeting, describing it as extremely unsuccessful and lacking meaningful engagement.She noted that stakeholders had requested discussions prior to the passage of the act, but were only granted a meeting after it had already been enacted, limiting the scope for substantive input. She further questioned the intent of the engagement, stating that participants felt the discussion appeared largely procedural rather than a genuine attempt to address concerns.Wedagedara also raised concerns about the nature of the dialogue, pointing to interruptions and a narrow focus on the legislation, which had, she said, constrained broader discussion on the microfinance crisis and the role of community-based financial systems.Additionally, she criticised the burden placed on stakeholders to provide evidence and data on issues that had been raised consistently over several years, arguing that such responsibilities should lie with the State.Responding to these criticisms, MP Hemachandra said the Government acknowledged the complexity of regulating a diverse and evolving sector and remained open to refining the law before it became fully operational.She noted that a key challenge lay in defining community finance, stating that any exemptions or tailored regulatory mechanisms would first require a clear conceptual framework. The meeting, she said, concluded with an agreement to collaboratively develop a concept paper to better identify and categorise such entities.Hemachandra claimed the wide variation in the scale of community-based organisations – ranging from small informal groups to entities managing assets worth billions of rupees – complicated efforts to introduce uniform regulatory measures.She acknowledged that concerns had been raised within the Government regarding the act, adding that there had been consensus to proceed with its passage while allowing space to address shortcomings prior to implementation.“There is time to review and correct any valid issues before the act is operationalised,” she said, referring to the six-month window before enforcement.She further indicated that while the Government remained open to continued dialogue, future discussions may be broadened to include a wider range of stakeholders to ensure a more comprehensive approach.The Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Act No.9 of 2026 came into force on 20 March following certification by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne.The act provides for the establishment of a regulatory authority to oversee money lending and microfinance institutions, with the stated objective of strengthening consumer protection and regulatory oversight. It also repeals the Microfinance Act No.6 of 2016 and introduces provisions aimed at coordinating with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and other regulatory bodies.Originally presented to Parliament on 26 November 2025, the bill was passed on 4 March.

Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Act: More issues to resolve before operationalising

<ul><li>CPC blames panic buying, hoarding for 10 March price increase</li><li>Diesel stocks secured until mid-April, petrol supply until early June</li><li>Multiple April shipments confirmed from Singapore and other unaffected regions</li></ul> The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has confirmed that no fuel price revision will take place on Tuesday (31), despite the date being scheduled for price revisions under the pricing formula.&nbsp;The monthly fuel price revision typically occurs at midnight on the final day of each month.Addressing a media briefing at the Department of Government Information yesterday (28) on the country’s fuel management amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, CPC Chairman Janaka Rajakaruna said that the recent price increase implemented on 10 March had been driven primarily by panic buying and hoarding, rather than a genuine increase in consumption.He noted that fuel stocks intended for later in the month had been depleted within the first 10 days due to a surge in public demand. “The main reason was the unnecessary panic among the public, who feared a fuel shortage and began hoarding, leading to long queues,” he said.“We initially released 57,000 MT of diesel and 47,000 MT of petrol. Normally, we issue stocks based on what we received the previous month, but a large portion of the stocks intended for the third month was consumed within the first 10 days. This necessitated the first price hike because we then had to sell fuel received at higher March prices,” he explained.Rajakaruna stressed that the spike in demand was not reflective of actual usage. “The surge in demand was not due to actual consumption; vehicles weren’t burning more fuel, it was due to distribution and hoarding. People were collecting fuel in containers, and some were even involved in black market activities,” he said.He further pointed to sharp increases in global fuel prices as the underlying structural challenge. “The primary cause of this issue is the increase in global market prices due to the war. I have previously shown how prices have risen since October, and they continue to trend upward without decreasing. This applies to finished products like petrol and diesel, as well as crude oil,” he said.Providing comparative data, Rajakaruna said that between the previous month and up to 20 March, petrol prices had increased by $ 9.27, while diesel had risen by $ 85.25 and kerosene/jet fuel by $ 97.01. “Because of these increases, we faced a cash flow problem and could not sustain further supplies without a price adjustment,” he added.He also warned of emerging supply-side uncertainties, noting that scheduled crude oil shipments had been delayed or rendered uncertain. “We observed a serious potential situation regarding future supplies, which is why we called for spot tenders. We noticed that a ship with 90,000 MT of crude oil due on 23–24 April would not arrive. Another ship due on 10–11 April is also uncertain,” he said.Highlighting the cost pressures, he noted that procurement premiums had surged sharply. “When we called for tenders, we were clear that we could last until mid-April. While suppliers were willing to provide fuel, the premiums, freight, insurance, and profit which are usually under $ 5, had risen to over $ 50. Every $ 1 increase in premium roughly translates to an increase of Rs. 2 per litre; therefore, a $ 50 increase means a rise of over Rs. 100 per litre,” he explained.Despite these constraints, Rajakaruna claimed that sufficient fuel supplies had been secured through confirmed shipments. He detailed that multiple consignments of diesel, petrol, jet fuel, and furnace oil were scheduled to arrive throughout April from suppliers in regions largely unaffected by the conflict.&nbsp;“These shipments are coming mainly from Singapore and other unaffected regions. All are from registered suppliers with million-dollar bonds and opened Letters of Credit (LCs). Therefore, diesel is guaranteed until mid-next month and petrol is guaranteed until the start of June,” he said.He added that sufficient furnace oil stocks were also available to support electricity generation, ensuring that power cuts would not be necessary. Looking ahead, Rajakaruna said that additional crude oil shipments were expected in May and June, while discussions were ongoing with India and Russia to secure emergency supplies, although technical and logistical challenges remained.“We have discussed emergency supplies with India, though they also face challenges. We received an offer for furnace oil from them, but the sulphur content was too high for our specifications. Discussions are also ongoing with Russia regarding payment methods and logistical barriers,” he said.Responding to concerns about pricing, he clarified that while the standard fuel pricing formula was in place, deviations had been made in March due to extraordinary circumstances. “While the formula is the standard, we deviated on 10 and 22 March due to the abnormal situation caused by the war.”He further revealed that the CPC continued to incur losses despite the adjustments. “Currently, the CPC incurs a loss of Rs. 32 per litre of petrol and Rs. 204 per litre of diesel. The Government is bearing a significant portion of this cost,” he added.&nbsp;

Fuel supplies: No fuel price revision on the 31st: CPC

<ul><li>200,000 users face data discrepancies</li></ul> A bulk registration facility is currently being developed to streamline the National Fuel Pass, widely known as the QR code system, according to the Ministry of Digital Economy.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Digital Economy Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala said the new feature would enable both private and public institutions to register vehicle fleets collectively.&nbsp;“We will soon introduce a facility to register vehicle fleets for organisations as a group,” he said, noting that it would simplify the process for large-scale users.He also revealed that registrations for the National Fuel Pass had reached nearly six million, marking a significant milestone in the digital management of fuel distribution.Despite the system’s overall success, approximately 200,000 users may encounter difficulties due to discrepancies with data in the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) database. Dhanapala explained that many of these issues stemmed from errors in reading physical documents.“For example, when looking at a photocopy, a ‘0’ might appear as an ‘O’ in an engine number, or a ‘1’ might resemble an ‘I’,” he said, adding that such discrepancies required periodic verification. He noted that system updates and corrections were being carried out in real time while the platform remained operational.According to Dhanapala, the system has experienced a sharp surge in users, with approximately two million registrations recorded within the two weeks since 15 March. Despite this rapid increase, he assured that the system remained stable.“We corrected the instability that occurred due to the initial load during the first phase. Therefore, this recent surge did not have an impact on the system,” he said.The platform is also being expanded to include the non-vehicle sector, covering essential industries such as agriculture and fisheries. Dhanapala said efforts were underway to integrate the registration of agricultural equipment and fishing vessels into the system.He noted that this expansion would provide a more comprehensive understanding of fuel consumption patterns while offering significant relief to users in these sectors.Clarifying institutional roles, Dhanapala said the Ministry of Digital Economy functioned as the technical service provider, while the Ministry of Energy retained ownership of the system. He added that the platform’s development had been supported through collaboration with the private sector.“Two IT companies, MillenniumIT and Dialog, are providing their development and hosting services free of charge,” he said.To address public concerns and registration issues, the Government has decentralised support services beyond the 1919 hotline. “In coordination with the Ministry of Public Administration, we have appointed a coordinating officer in every divisional secretariat to resolve issues faced by the public,” Dhanapala said.Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, addressing concerns over misuse of the system, revealed that investigations had uncovered instances of QR code-related fraud.&nbsp;Authorities have identified 153 mobile phone numbers linked to the illegal downloading of QR codes, which had prevented legitimate vehicle owners from accessing their assigned codes. These cases have been referred to the Police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further legal action.The Police has also intensified action against illegal fuel-related activities. Raids conducted at 79 locations across the country have uncovered instances of fuel being stockpiled for black-market sale.

National Fuel Pass: Bulk registration feature for QR code system

<ul><li>Sri Lanka, Russia to hold 11th round of bilateral consultations</li></ul> Russian Federation Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrey Rudenko is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on Tuesday (31) to participate in the 11th round of bilateral political consultations between the two countries, aimed at reviewing and strengthening diplomatic, economic, and strategic cooperation.The consultations, which are part of an ongoing structured engagement process between Colombo and Moscow, will bring together officials from both Foreign Ministries to assess existing partnerships and explore opportunities for further collaboration across multiple sectors.Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General of Public Diplomacy Thushara Rodrigo confirmed that the consultations followed a reciprocal format, with meetings alternating between the two countries.He explained that the consultations were comprehensive in scope, covering a broad range of sectors rather than focusing on a single issue.Russia’s Deputy Minister of Energy Roman Marshavin engaged in an official visit to Sri Lanka last week, where he met senior members of the Sri Lankan Government including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Marshavin concluded his visit to Sri Lanka yesterday (28).

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