CPC says no fuel relief for election purposes

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said it will not be able to provide any relief for vehicles used for election-related work.

“The total fuel cost for election-related work will be about two cargo shipments of 30,000 MT of petrol each. The Treasury has to release about 100-150 million USD for this purpose. Therefore, we cannot increase the QR quota or provide any other fuel assistance to the Election Commission at this crisis time,” a senior CPC official said.

He said if the CPC has to increase the QR quota on election vehicles, it will have to reduce the amount provided for essential services and to agriculture and fisheries sectors.

The Election Commission said though it has approached the CPC on increasing the quota on vehicles used for election-related work, they have not received any response from the CPC.  

On Monday, the Election Commission informed the Supreme Court via a motion that it is not possible to conduct the March 9 local government polls citing a number of reasons including the inadequate supply of fuel being one.

A petition by a retired Army colonel seeking a postponement of the Local Government elections on February 23 will be taken up at the Supreme Court tomorrow (23).

The Election Commission last week announced the postponement of the postal voting which was scheduled to be held from today.