News
Protests erupt in several places after gas supplies failed to arrive
Fuel and gas shortages have triggered several protests in Colombo and outstation ciites yesterday, holding up traffic for several hours.
At Armour Street in Colombo, one such protest was continuing past midnight blocking the Colombo-Negombo route and forcing motorists to use other routes.
Armour Stree residents continuing their protest last night, demanding gas
The protesters said they resorted to such action after they had waited in hope for domestic gas for several days, believing the dealer’s daily promise that the supplies would arrive today.
In the neighbouring Jampettah Street, too, a protest was going on last night, demanding gas.
Earlier in the day, protests were held at Mahabage, blocking traffic on the Negombo Road and at Pelawatte on the Kottawa-Borella road. A protest was held in Welawatte. At all these protests, the people called on the authorities to supply them with domestic gas. There were protests in Galle too.
Meanwhile, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation sources said they had limited the issue of fuel to the market with petrol left for six days and diesel for two days.
The sources said the daily supply of diesel had been brought down to 1500 Mt from 5500 Mt while the issue of Octane 95 petrol had been stopped.
However, in a statement yesterday, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said that on an average 4000 Mt of auto diesel and 2500 of Octane 92 petrol were released daily.
He said the reduced supply of auto diesel would continue until the Norochcholai power plant unit that was closed for repairs was restored.
Officials said the clearance of a shipment carrying 37,500 Mt diesel had been delayed as the CPC was yet to find the US$ 35 million payment for it. The move has forced the CPC to pay US$ 18,000 a day as demurrage.
Another shipment of 70,000 Mt of crude oil which arrived at the Colombo Port is yet to be cleared. the US$ 70 million was required to release the shipment.The last diesel shipment under the India credit line is due on May 16.
| 10-hour power cuts The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is planning to request for a 10-hour power cut from next week. The request will be sent to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka tomorrow, an official said. | |
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