Shipment of 38,000 MT of petroleum from India arrives

A shipment of 38,000 MT of petroleum, of which 20,000 MT is diesel and 18000 MT petrol, has arrived in Colombo today following the telephone conversation between President Anura Kumara Disanayaka and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. 

On March 23, 2026, External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar and Hon’ble Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath had also held a telephone conversation, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.

“ Lanka IOC had earlier secured fuel supplies for March from the Middle East and Singapore. However, suppliers with whom the contracts were placed expressed their inability to deliver the product and invoked force Majeure, in view of supply disruptions and vessel unavailability due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” the statement said. 

Due to the above disruptions, Rescue supplies were requested from India from IOCL. The current shipment of 38,000 MT is part of these supplies as the Indian government, through Lanka IOC, has extended support to Sri Lanka for maintaining the continuity of fuel supply.