Filling stations advised to not to release fuel to cans

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has advised filling stations to not to release fuel for cans and other containers without special permission.

Its Chairman, Sumith Wijesinghe stated that the decision was taken to prevent illegal stockpiling.

However, a protest was held in the Pinduwa area in Galle today (15) against this decision.

The protest was being staged by a group of people who had come to get fuel from a petrol station near the Pinnaduwa Expressway entrance in Galle, who alleged that the decision to not to supply fuel to those with cans is unfair.

A tense situation also arose when petrol station employees refused to supply fuel for cans, while traffic at the Pinnaduwa Expressway entrance in Galle was disrupted due to the protest.

Long queues were also seen near petrol stations in Matara, as consumers complained that fuel was not provided for the cans.

Our correspondents said that filling stations in many parts of the island remained closed today, while long fuel queues were seen near open petrol stations.

Several filling stations on the Kandy-Colombo main road were also closed.

In addition, long queues are seen in many areas including Mawanella, Polonnaruwa, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ratnapura and Kurunegala.