The Sri Lankan government has approved 11 companies holding valid bunker licences to import and sell fuel in US dollars to private-sector entities, the Sunday Times reported.
According to the report, companies purchasing fuel under this scheme must make payments strictly in US dollars.
The approved firms have been authorised through a letter issued by Energy Ministry Secretary K.T.M. Udayanga Hemapala. They are permitted to sell fuel including diesel, low-sulphur fuel, and high-sulphur fuel to exporters, power generation companies, registered tourism service providers, licensed telecommunication providers, and other industries.
This special arrangement will be in effect for three months starting from March 17.
The approved companies are:
Lanka IOC, Lanka Marine Services Pvt Ltd, Lanka Maritime Services Ltd, Lanka Bunkering Services Pvt Ltd, Moceti International Pvt Ltd, InterOcean Energy Pvt Ltd, McMarine Pvt Ltd, Sinopec Fuel Oil Lanka Pvt Ltd, Spence Sea Horse Marine Pvt Ltd, Serdaka Global Pvt Ltd, Hawks Colombo Pvt Ltd, and FitsOil Pvt Ltd.
However, the inland transport sector is not eligible for this facility, the letter noted.
The move is part of the government’s effort to reduce pressure on state-imported fuel supplies. Authorities recently decided to allow the import and export sectors to meet their fuel requirements through direct imports, with all payments made in US dollars.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed this policy direction for the first time at a recent press conference.
