News
Information blackout as fuel stocks run out
View(s):With existing fuel stocks almost exhausted, the Government yesterday imposed an information blackout on fuel distribution by removing distribution lists published by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and shutting down the newly launched online platform providing information on fuel availability.
The fuel distribution lists that had been published by the CPC for yesterday (18) were removed first from the corporation’s websites and social media accounts. This was quickly followed by the shutting down of the online platform (fuel.gov.lk) developed by the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA). The site was only launched last week to provide speedy and accurate information on fuel availability.
A Power and Energy Ministry official initially denied that the site had been taken down, telling the Sunday Times it had “crashed” due to too many customers trying to use it. This was, however, contradicted by ICTA in a notice issued through its social media channels.
“We are compelled to temporarily suspend http://fuel.gov.lk as per instructions received. We regret any inconvenience caused in this regard. We will notify the public no sooner we are able to resume operations to provide fuel bowser dispatch information,” said a notice issued by ICTA.
Though the agency did not mention where the “instructions” to suspend the platform came from, the Sunday Times understands that concerns have been raised from several quarters, including the police, that prior information on bowser dispatches was creating massive queues, leading to heated situations and violence breaking out at filling stations once stocks ran out.
The problem, according to one source, has been that motorists from far and wide have been queuing up outside a filling station the moment fuel distribution lists are released. Only about 6600 litres of fuel is transported in a bowser due to the prevailing shortages and in many cases, more than 1000 vehicles are waiting for it when it arrives. Most will inevitably miss out, leading some to direct their anger and frustration through violence.
Police Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa claimed he was unaware of police directly instructing ICTA to take down the site but said concerns had been raised about it during meetings of various stakeholders.
Meanwhile, lengthy queues prevailed outside many filling stations across the country yesterday, with some CPC and Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) filling stations receiving limited stocks.
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