Minister Patali Champika Ranwaka has called the relevant authorities to conduct an investigation to detect the mafia style activities and those who are responsible for those acts in power and energy sector.
He said that strict punishment must be introduced against the culprits.
Commenting on the current petrol crisis at a press conference on Tuesday at the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry in Colombo, the Minister reminded that a similar incident occurred in 2012.
These types of malpractices are a common phenomenon in the electricity generation sector, he said.
He said the organized groups create artificial shortages of rural electricity and then get the huge benefits from the chaotic situation. Minister Ranawaka called for a proper investigation into these type of activities and said the mafia style elements carried out malpractices in every sector in the eras of several past ministers. Therefore it is useless to blame the Petroleum Minister for the fuel crisis.
Creating a phobia among the general population on energy shortages and direct them to purchase oil unnecessarily. For example if the regular daily petrol consumption is around 2,500 metric tons sometimes people panicked by the rumors will raise the daily need up to 4000 metric tons creating a shortage.
