Following President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announcing that temporary permits would be issued to US dollar-dominated businesses to import fuel for sale to the tourism and export sectors, five companies have so far applied for such permits, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Addressing a special press conference held at the Department of Government Information yesterday (22), he said that the Government was currently reviewing the applications submitted by the five companies.

He added that the fuel imported under this mechanism would be issued specifically for industrial requirements.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (22), Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Mayura Neththikumara said that despite the interest shown by private importers, the CPC has the capacity to continue supplying fuel required for both the general public and industrial sectors.

According to the CPC Chairman, fuel imported by private sector entities would be stored at the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) following quality inspections. “The imported fuel of the private sector will be stored in the same terminals used by the Government, and issuing of fuel from those terminals will be carried out based on requests made by the respective owners,” he said.

He further noted the imported fuel would primarily be utilised to support export industry operations.

Explaining the process for obtaining temporary import permits, the Chairman said that prospective importers were required to submit requests via email to the Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, copying the CPC, after which a committee would evaluate the applications.

President Dissanayake last week (17), during a special media briefing, announced that temporary approval had been granted to selected private sector industries to import their own fuel requirements, particularly to support tourism and export-related activities.