• The captain was holding the vessel in international waters till the payment was released
• The President had given a guarantee that funds would be released for the shipment, but the captain has refused to accept this guarantee
• The government is liable for demurrage fees for the delay in clearing the shipment but right now no immediate funds are available for the shipment to be unloaded
• This will lead to the diesel shortage presently existing in the market, to be extended by a few more days

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

A ship carrying the much required diesel shipment for this week is currently in international waters and the captain of the vessel is refusing to enter local waters, till such time the payment for the shipment is made upfront, senior sources in the industry told Daily Mirror last evening. It is still unclear how many tonnes of diesel the vessel is carrying but sources said the captain was holding the vessel in international waters till the payment was released.   

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had given a guarantee that funds would be released for the shipment, but the captain has refused to accept this guarantee. He also fears that if his vessel enters local waters, it will be kept lying for several days with the Sri Lankan government being unable to clear it.   

The government is liable for demurrage fees for the delay in clearing the shipment but right now no immediate funds are available for the shipment to be unloaded.   

Once the government confirms that the payment is ready and has been made the vessel will enter the Colombo Port for unloading.  

This will lead to the diesel shortage presently existing in the market, to be extended by a few more days.   
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has requested the public not to queue at filling stations for diesel as no stocks are available.   

However from the shipments already received, diesel will be distributed for essential supplies only.   

CPC confirms govt. has to pay demurrage on diesel shipments  

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

Sources within the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation told Daily Mirror that the diesel shipments could not be cleared as the treasury did not have funds to pay for the demurrage.  

 A senior official of the CPC said the diesel shipment was to be unloaded on Tuesday but due to the failure of funds the shipment was awaiting to be unloaded.  

Despite assurances that the diesel shortage would last only yesterday and today, the official said it will take at least a further three days to unload and distribute the shipment if the monies including the demurrage fee is paid today.  
Presently the government is expected to pay a sum of US $52 million to clear the diesel shipments.