Please don’t queue up near petrol sheds since there is an acute shortage of petrol for the next two days, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara told Parliament.
The Minister said that although a vessel carrying petrol is in the outer harbour, we are trying to find the necessary dollars to unload the petrol stocks.
He said that the Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister were trying to find the necessary funds. “We owe 53 million dollars to the petrol consignment the same vessel brought in January. Hence they are refusing to unload unless we pay the dues. We are trying to get the petrol by underwriting a guarantee to pay all outstanding debts by the 15th of August.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that the country received 160 million dollars from the World Bank and is trying to obtain World Bank approval to use that money to purchase petrol.
The Minister tendered an apology to the three-wheel operators for their inability to provide the fuel necessary for them.
The Minister said that although a vessel carrying petrol is in the outer harbour, we are trying to find the necessary dollars to unload the petrol stocks.
He said that the Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister were trying to find the necessary funds. “We owe 53 million dollars to the petrol consignment the same vessel brought in January. Hence they are refusing to unload unless we pay the dues. We are trying to get the petrol by underwriting a guarantee to pay all outstanding debts by the 15th of August.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that the country received 160 million dollars from the World Bank and is trying to obtain World Bank approval to use that money to purchase petrol.
The Minister tendered an apology to the three-wheel operators for their inability to provide the fuel necessary for them.
