Only 1,000 MT left for two days; fishers sans fuel for month
BY Buddhika SamaraweeraThe Petroleum Trade Unions Confederation (PTUC) stated that the shortage of kerosene will be further exacerbated as the current stock of 1,000 metric tonnes (MT) of kerosene in the country is sufficient for only about two days.Speaking to The Morning yesterday (31), PTUC Convener Ananda Palitha said: “Currently, the country has stocks of about 1,000 MT of kerosene. Even Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has admitted that it is only enough for two days. This shortage comes at a time when the supply of kerosene needs to be increased beyond the normal levels.” He said that the demand for kerosene had risen sharply due to unaffordable and rising gas prices and scheduled power cuts. He also said that as a result, the general public and industrialists such as the fishing community have been severely inconvenienced.“Currently, the prices of meat and fish have gone up drastically and the authorities should take steps to increase the fish production in the country by providing the necessary facilities to the fishing community. What has happened now however is that instead of encouraging the fishing community, they are being discouraged. Fishermen have not received kerosene for three to four weeks. Then they lose their revenue and consumers are embarrassed due to the high prices,” claimed Palitha.He also said that although kerosene stocks can be stored at 15 locations belonging to the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) throughout the country, at present, kerosene is distributed only from the Kolonnawa depot, adding that this too has contributed to the shortage of kerosene in many areas.The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery met Sri Lanka’s kerosene demand for decades, but it has not been operational as the imports of crude oil are being disrupted due to the prevailing US dollar shortage in the country. As a result, a shortage of kerosene has emerged and people, especially those from the city of Colombo and its suburbs, are currently seen waiting in long queues to buy kerosene.
