The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has instructed fuel station owners and dealers to maintain a minimum stock of 50 percent.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said that he instructed the CPC authorities to review and suspend the licence of errant fuel stations that do not maintain the minimum storage volume and do not comply with the CPC regulations. Meanwhile the CPC requested the public not to panic as the CPC and Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) are maintaining adequate stocks.
However a fuel shortage has been seen during the last few days due to non placement of orders by certain station owners anticipating a fuel piece hike.
Owing to this situation queues were once again seen at fuel filling stations countrywide causing a hardship to motorists. It was observed that most of the fuel stations had displayed notices that they were out of stocks.