Fuel station owners protest against Sinopec, RM Parks and Lanka IOC over supply shortages

Newswire reports that fuel station owners affiliated with Sinopec, RM Parks and Lanka IOC held a silent protest in Colombo on Tuesday, November 10. Ada Derana and Ada Derana (සිංහල) also report that petroleum distributors staged a silent protest in Colombo.

Newswire says the protesters first gathered outside the World Trade Centre and later outside the Presidential Secretariat, where they submitted a letter describing their concerns. The outlet reports that they also took steps to send letters to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, the Chinese Embassy and the Indian High Commission, asking those bodies to intervene.

Newswire reports that the owners said inadequate deliveries were making it harder to operate stations and could inconvenience consumers. They also said the prevailing pricing system left private companies unable to sell profitably and could be contributing to restricted supplies. The distributors called for an independent body to oversee fuel prices and improve transparency in the pricing formula.

Newswire reports that CPC Chairman D. J. Rajakaruna and the Energy Ministry secretary responded to journalists’ questions after an event in Colombo. According to Newswire, the officials said private fuel companies had reported financial losses under the current pricing structure, and that operators could raise certain prices within formula limits; some had raised prices for Octane 95 petrol and Super Diesel.

Newswire reports that the officials acknowledged the government could not directly control the quantities distributed by private operators under current arrangements. They said the CPC was taking steps to keep its own stations adequately supplied.