The Petroleum Trade Union Collective says the statement by Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila pertaining to the fuel crisis in the country, is conflicting.
Convenor of the Collective Ananda Palitha when contacted by NewsRadio said queues will be created in future for fuel.
He questioned how refined fuel is being imported, when the government lacks sufficient foreign reserves to import crude oil.
Palitha said sufficient kerosene oil was not distributed to filling stations as of yesterday, despite the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery still being in operation.
He said with the refinery closing the country is 100 percent dependent on imports.
He questioned why vehicles were queuing up at filling stations if there are sufficient stocks of fuel and why the stocks are not being distributed.
Ananda Palitha urged the government to refrain from deceiving the people, adding that crude oil is not being imported owing to a ‘commission mafia’.
He claimed if the government genuinely lacks foreign reserves, in future more queues will be witnessed at filling stations.
He charged that Minister Gammanpila’s statement yesterday was a mere fairy-tale.
