• Focus on tourism and export industries   
• Acknowledges expected coal shipments haven’t been forthcoming

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (17) announced during a special media briefing that the Government has granted temporary approval for certain industries in the private sector to import its own fuel requirements, particularly for the tourism and export industries. This decision comes as the Government grapples with delays in expected energy shipments, a repercussion of the ongoing war, which threatens to create a shortage in the country.

President Dissanayake outlined the immediate steps being taken by the Government to avert a potential energy crisis. He stated that despite the Government having placed orders for the necessary amount of coal, the country will face a shortage due to delays in receiving these supplies.

In light of the Government's inability to supply all the fuel needed, the President confirmed that the private sector has been given approval to import fuel required for their operations, specifically for the tourism and export sectors.

To manage the situation, the President detailed that an investigative committee has been appointed to monitor the issue regularly. “The Central Bank is updating the committee every two days, identifying the bottlenecks and providing recommendations to overcome the existing situation,” he said.

President Dissanayake added that securing the country’s energy supply is the Government's central focus, and outlined several key steps being taken. He revealed that Sri Lanka is engaged in diplomatic discussions with other countries to explore energy supply options, noting that the Government has received positive initial responses.

Furthermore, he announced that the Government has called for immediate tenders for petrol, diesel, and crude oil. He stated that “trustworthy” buyers have submitted tenders, although he acknowledged that the country has had to purchase from them at a higher price.

President also explained that since a Government cannot make immediate decisions the same way that the private sector can, a special committee has been appointed. This committee is authorised to take immediate decisions regarding fuel purchases, and its decisions will receive expedited approval from the Cabinet of Ministers.

On a positive note regarding gas supplies, the President mentioned that the Government has ordered 38,000 metric tonnes (MT) of gas for March, which exceeds the monthly requirement of 33,000 MT. “Some of them are already in the market and the rest is in Maldives right now,” he added.

The President’s announcement comes as Sri Lanka begins to experience the consequences of a possible energy crisis, stemming from ongoing tensions in the Middle East. These measures taken follow repeated concerns raised by the Opposition and the public regarding the Government's ability to manage the country's energy security.