Sri Lanka’s state owned fuel distributor Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) while condemning the recent threat by Ceylon Petroleum Bowser Owners Association to disrupt fuel distribution countrywide, said that it had taken swift and necessary steps to ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply by engaging independent bowser owners.
The CPSTL in a media statement strongly condemned the action of the Ceylon Petroleum Bowser Owners Association, which recently threatened to disrupt countrywide transportation of fuel without negotiation with CPSTL.
The Ceylon Petroleum Private Bowser Owners’ Association has threatened to suspend the transportation of fuel if their demand for increase in fees following the increase in fuel prices is not met.
The CPSTL said the threat by the association to halt fuel distribution, demanding an increase in the transportation allowance, is a move to hold the country’s energy security to ransom and that it does not recognize the organization.
The CPSTL said it cannot condone the association’s arbitrary actions or threats to halt fuel distribution and took swift and necessary steps to ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply.
“As a state entity, we are committed to safeguarding the country’s energy security and serving the best interests of the people. Over the past year, we have been working tirelessly to transform CPSTL and we are currently on a growth trajectory. We are always open for discussions and to find solutions. However, any move to cripple the national fuel supply, threaten the country’s energy security to inconvenience the public with intimidation, will not be entertained” said Dammika Ranatunga, Chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited.
CPSTL said that the meeting held on 17th July 2018 with independent fuel bowser owners was successful and it welcomes any positive discussion with the association to reach a mutual arrangement that would be beneficial for CPSTL and Association, and importantly, the country’s people.
