Petrol ship due to dock tonight; long queues continue

The vessel carrying much needed petrol stocks is expected to dock at the Colombo Harbour at about 7.00pm today, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development states. 

Issuing a media release, the Ministry further said that the decision to withdraw the circular issued yesterday to pump petrol only to vehicles and not to bottles and cans, was taken as there were sufficient petrol stocks in the country. 

However, while the country's daily petrol consumption is about 2500MT, the CPC had released 2623MT of petrol on Monday (6) while 3000MT were released yesterday (7) and a further 3000MT is expected to be released today. 

Despite the assertions made by the Ministry, long queues were seen at filling stations throughout the country even this morning. 

Pix by Reka Tharangani Fonseka

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