• Rs. 100 per litre on diesel and Rs. 20 on petrol borne by State 
• Diesel consignment due 25 March; crude shipment postponed to June 

The Government is currently absorbing approximately Rs. 20 billion per month to cushion the impact of fuel costs on consumers, including Rs. 100 per litre on diesel and Rs. 20 per litre on petrol, Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Addressing a media briefing on fuel price increases yesterday (22), he warned that if the Government were to bear the full cost of fuel imports, it would result in an additional annual expenditure of approximately $ 1.5 billion.

He said that such an expenditure would place severe pressure not only on the fuel sector but also on the entire national economy.

Providing details on fuel supplies in the coming days, the Minister announced that a vessel carrying 37,000 MT of diesel is scheduled to arrive on 25 March. He noted this shipment follows an earlier consignment of 37,000 MT of petrol that arrived on 7 and 8 March. 

Based on tenders submitted on 17 March, he provided a schedule of upcoming fuel consignments expected over the next several weeks.

Two shipments of 37,000 MT of diesel are expected on 6, 7, and 8 April. These will be followed by a shipment of 35,000 MT of Jet A-1 fuel scheduled for either 10 or 11 April. Another 30,000 MT of petrol is expected either on 16 or 17 April.

He said the crude oil shipment originally scheduled for April had been cancelled. Instead, a 30,000 MT-crude oil vessel is now expected to arrive in June. 

Addressing the global geopolitical situation, Dr. Jayatissa noted the duration of the ongoing conflict involving major powers remains unpredictable. He said that even if the conflict were to end immediately, damage to global infrastructure and oil production would prevent a rapid recovery of the local economy.

He warned that fuel prices in the country could rise to an unbearable level in May, 2026 if the military situation in the Middle East escalates. “None of us can predict how the situation will unfold. However, the Government has no intention of increasing prices in the immediate future. We hope there will be some level of moderation. If the current trend continues, we may be compelled to increase prices to an unbearable level when the next revision is due on the first of May.” 

He further confirmed that all Ministry Secretaries had been instructed to take proactive steps to reduce energy consumption within the public sector, ensuring the Government leads by example during this period of economic difficulty.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same briefing, CPC Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna assured that fuel supply would continue without interruption and said there was no cause for public concern as sufficient fuel orders had already been secured for the coming months.

He explained the country had approximately one month of stored fuel at the onset of the ongoing conflict, but these reserves were depleted within the first week due to increased consumption and fuel stockpiling by the public.

He noted the recent fuel price increases apply to fuel being procured to replenish supplies following the depletion of these reserves.

Providing consumption figures, he said that within a 20-day period, the country consumed 144,707 litres of diesel—equivalent to approximately four ships—and 160,464 litres of 92-octane petrol—equivalent to approximately three ships.

The Government moved to increase fuel prices from midnight on 21 March while simultaneously announcing an increase in fuel quotas allocated for vehicles.