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Fuel bowser strike: Government to use other options

30 Apr 2022

  • Pvt. bowser rates increased 84% since June 2021: Minister
  • Wijesekara calls for licences to be revoked 
By Asiri Fernando The Government will continue fuel distribution without disruption using bowser trucks of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and those which are owned by respective fuel station owners, if the Ceylon Private Fuel Tanker Owners’ Association (CPFTOA) continues with the strike launched last night (30 April), Minister of Energy and Power Kanchana Wijesekara said yesterday. Minister Wijesekara’s remarks came following demands by the CPFTOA to increase its fuel distribution rate, which the Government had not agreed to as of last evening. Last evening Wijesekara directed Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd. (CPSTL) to register new suppliers for distribution and to cancel the licences issued to bowser trucks which had failed to report for duty. “Instructed CPSTL to immediately open up registration for new suppliers to transport fuel and to cancel the registration of suppliers who fail to report to duty. Trains, Govt.-owned bowsers, fuel station-owned bowsers, and private hired bowsers not on strike will continue services.” Wijesekara said in a tweet.  According to the CPFTOA, the current rate paid to distribute fuel across the island from the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals (CPST) to fuel stations is unsustainable and should be increased. The association has called for an island-wide strike, asking its members to withdraw from distribution operations from last night. The move comes following the most recent fuel price hike, which came into effect in the last two weeks.  However, Minister Wijesekara argued that the rate for private bowser trucks had already been amended five times since June last year.  Wijesekara said that the rate had increased by 84% from June last year.  The last increase of rates had been on 19 April with Rs. 543.65 paid per kilometre for a 33,000-litre bowser which supplies fuel stations in the low country, with Rs. 563 offered per kilometre for a similar bowser supplying stations in the up-country region. “Fuel transport is conducted by three sectors. Government-owned, fuel station owners’ bowsers, and hired bowsers. Rates for hired bowsers have been adjusted five times since July 2021 – an increase of 84% using a formula agreed by all. If the private sector goes on strike, we will use the other two sectors to deliver,” Wijesekara stated. According to Wijesekara, 381 bowser trucks which reported for duty, including some privately-owned bowsers, continued with scheduled fuel distribution last evening.     


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