Fuel crisis is a technical issue, not a political one: Bandula

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Minister of Transport, Bandula Gunawardena says that he can understand the plight of the people as his family members too have to stay in queues to obtain fuel, and emphasized that the fuel crisis is a technical issue, and not one which can be resolved via political means. Speaking at the Cabinet Press Briefing held today (21), the Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera stated that a tanker carrying diesel will arrive in the country by 24th June while a tanker carrying petrol will arrive in the country by 23rd June, as previously mentioned by the Minister of Energy, Kanchana Wijesekara. Accordingly, the Minister said that the current fuel queues will somewhat be reduced, however the issue will not be eradicated completely. He also mentioned that proposals have come forward to make the process of nabbing fuel hoarders more systematic. Acknowledging that certain underworld members too skip queues and attempt to obtain and hoard fuel, the Minister said that security forces in the country have been requested to curb the situation, yet it had arrived at a state where the public have begun assaulting the members of security forces who try to prevent underground mobs from hoarding and obtaining fuel illegally. Therefore, the Minister said that the public should understand this plight and assist the security forces. Minister Gunawardena emphasized that the Government does understand the plight of the people with regard to fuel, as their family members too have to stay in queues to obtain fuel. Pointing out that suppliers express hesitancy when providing a nation with low foreign reserves with fuel, the Minister said that it is now impossible. The Minister of Transport, therefore, pointed out that it is a technical problem, and not an issue which can be resolved through political means. Expounding further on the subject, the Minister said that a quota system has been proposed to curb the issue, in addition to a system of issuing fuel according to the last number of vehicle number plates, and by prioritizing those in essential and emergency services. He added that the issue will remain during the coming months, after which a long-term solution will be proposed with regard to the supply of kerosene and LP gas.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOPq0EU8sxc