By Sandun A Jayasekera  

 A retired employee of the Petroleum Corporation has hoodwinked the entire country with his lies asserting that there would be an imminent fuel shortage in the country following the closure of the Kolonnawa Oil Refinery, Energy Minister and Co-Cabinet Spokesman Uaya Gammanpila said yesterday. 

He assured that there was no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene or furnace oil in the country only because the stoppage of the oil refining process at Sapugaskanda as the CEYPETCO had ample stocks of all petroleum products.  

“Yes, I admit that there are long queues at filling stations for petrol, diesel, kerosene and other products. But this is not because we have a shortage but due to the suspicion prevalent among motorists  that there would be a shortage triggered by a malicious and completely false propaganda campaign by this retired trade unionist with the support of the media,” Minister Gammanpila charged.  

“With the misconception that there would be a fuel shortage, motorists have pumped full tanks to their vehicles including those who have super luxury vehicles that run only three or four kilometres per a litre of petrol or diesel. This has contributed to the fuel shortage capacity at filling stations sooner than the normal supply period creating an unnecessary fuel round the country. Other negative effect which the government is helpless to deal with is  that the fuel subsidy is enjoyed by persons who draws Rs. 50,000 a month as well as by those whose monthly income is Rs. 500,000 or more.

 This system is extremely unfair and needs a thorough review, he added.  

Minister Gammanpila said the closure of the Sapugaskanda Refinery was a timely move by the government to prevent more losses and it will resume work soon with the availability of the crude oil. At the moment the CYPETCO had ample stocks of all petroleum products for months.  

He said it was a mistake that the media gave wider publicity to the lies spread by a retired CPC employee and failed to check his utterances with the subject Minister, Ministry Secretary or the Chairman or the DG of the CEYPETCO.

- Other negative effect which the government is helpless to deal with is   that the fuel subsidy is enjoyed by persons who draws Rs. 50,000 a  month as well as by those whose monthly income is Rs. 500,000 or more