Government Will Not Yield to External Agenda on Fuel: Minister Bimal Ratnayake

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Ratnayake, addressed Parliament on the current status of fuel distribution nationwide.

The Minister admitted that there is an issue with regards to fuel in the country, and added that however, this was not due to any fault of the Ministry of Energy or the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. 

He said that it was based on a court order. 

Minister Ratnayake explained that the government incurs a cost when transporting fuel from the ship to the Colombo Port and subsequently from the Port to the CPC. Additionally, the CPC bears expenses related to fuel refining and distribution.

While the CPC generates revenue through this process, the Minister noted that it also faces various operational costs. He further stated that a commission is allocated to fuel distributors as part of the system.

Minister Ratnayake highlighted that all past governments have imposed taxes on the fuel industry. Since 2009, the commission percentage has been calculated, taking this tax into account. He emphasized that previous Ministers of Energy also recognized this matter, acknowledging that commissions should be based on the actual costs incurred rather than after adding the tax.

He affirmed that the government will not yield to external agendas but will adhere strictly to the court’s ruling on this issue.

Minister Ratnayake reassured the public that there is no fuel shortage in the country and that fuel distribution has been carried out nationwide.