Police, Military supporting fuel distribution process

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said that fuel distribution commenced at Kollonnawa and Mithurajawela terminals at 6am on Wednesday (29) morning.

He said that Sri Lanka Police & Armed forces will continue to assist the fuel distribution process.

The Minister said that adequate fuel stocks are available in the country.

"It has been noticed that some fuel stations has not placed orders anticipating the April price revision. Request the Fuel Station operators to place their orders accordingly & maintain the minimum stocks required," tweeted the Minister.

 The distribution of fuel is continuing without any issue, despite a trade union action in place, said Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman Uvais Mohamed.

He said that all employees had pledged to report to work as usual from Wednesday (29) morning.

The CPC has decided that the Trade Union leaders and workers who disrupted the fuel distribution process will be sent on compulsory leave and prohibited them from entering the CPC & Storage Terminals.

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said that though there was a delay in the fuel distribution process, the situation has returned to normalcy.

He said there’s adequate stocks of fuel in the country & the distribution will continue.

Fuel distribution that was earlier delayed due to trade union activist forcibly preventing employees from attending to their duties, he said adding that operations have been normalized with police and armed forces providing necessary security at the terminals & distribution.

The President's Media Division said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation assured that there's no fuel shortage.

It noted that the government assured there would be an unhindered supply of fuel and urged the public not to panic and congregate at fuel stations.

Moreover, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has instructed the Chairmen CPC & CPSTL to take necessary disciplinary steps to consider termination of employment & any legal steps necessary against trade union activist or employees that are disrupting the distribution of fuel, disrupting the work of other employees or acting in violation of the essential services orders.

However, Trade Unions allege that the Police and military were deployed to forcibly get the Petroleum Corporation workers to report to work.

Chairman of the CPC branch of the Podujana Progressive Workers Union said the strike will continue.