• Fuel crisis has been deliberately created so that a conducive environment will prevail under which the local fuel market could be easily liberalised

By Yohan Perera  

Whilst alleging that liberalizing Sri Lanka’s fuel distribution will result in the closure of the Sapugaskanda refinery, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday said he together with other opposition political parties will launch a struggle to save it.    

“The Refinery is a national asset and we will do our utmost to save it,” Premadasa told CPC trade unionists who met him yesterday.   

“We will not allow the present government to destroy the refinery,” he said.   

“The refinery supplies 100 percent of Sri Lanka’s kerosene needs, 50 to 60 percent of aviation fuel needs, 100 percent of Naptha need, 30 to 100 percent of diesel and 75 percent to 100 percent of furnace oil at the moment,” he said.