By Chaturanga Samarawickrama 

The fuel distribution in the country will not be streamlined until the fuel price increase comes into effect by June 24, Samagi United Trade Union Force (SUTUF) convener and media spokesman Ananda Palitha said. 

He told the Daily Mirror that there is a possibility of increasing the price of every fuel variety by more than Rs. 60. According to the power and energy ministry secretary, the fuel price increase should take effect on the 24th of each month. 

The most recent fuel price increase was on May 24. 

Plans have been made to increase the price of a litre of 92 Octane petrol by Rs.74, 95 Octane petrol by Rs.78, a litre of diesel by Rs.56, a litre of super diesel by Rs.65 and a litre of kerosene by Rs.210, Palitha said. 
Therefore, the responsible authorities are not in a position to distribute fuel until the price increase comes into effect on June 24. 

“As a result, 5,500 MT of petrol and 11,000 MT of diesel are currently in hand at Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) storage facilities. The last shipment of diesel (40,000MT) arrived in the country yesterday under the Indian Credit Line facility,” he said. 

The country needs 6,000 MT of diesel and 5,000 MT of petrol daily for the smooth running of the economy, he said. 

With the receipt of the last diesel shipment, there are no more petrol or diesel freight scheduled to arrive. Moreover, Palitha said that a total of 520,000MT (13 shipments) of diesel and petrol have been received. 
With the fuel distribution has been curtailed, we can see the longest fuel queues in history, Palitha added.