By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

All non-essential staff in the public sector has been asked to stay at home today (20) because of the fuel crisis, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament yesterday. 

We have decided to declare a holiday for all non-essential staff in the public sector, considering the difficulties they face as a result of the fuel shortage. Also, we would like to request the public to restrict their travelling. We have to take steps to create a fuel reserve,” the Premier said. 

He said the government is making an effort to make adequate fuel stocks available by mid-June. 
“A shipment with 28,000 metric tons of 92 gasoline and 8,000 MTs of 95 gasoline on May 18, 2022, another shipment of 37,000 metric tons of diesel will arrive on May 20, 2022. Payment has to be made to another shipment that arrived on March 28. In addition, another ship named “GT Trading” in the port with 37,000 metric tons of gasoline while one more shipment of 38,000 metric tons of diesel in Sri Lankan waters. 

This arrived on April 30. This stock of diesel has come under the Indian credit line. We will have adequate stocks of fuel by mid-June if we are able to make the payments for these shipments,” the Prime Minister said.