{
  "id": 12528393,
  "title": "Fuel crunch looms",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/fuel-crunch-looms",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-07T00:05:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/fuel-crunch-looms/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The government has directed fuel distributors to maintain minimum stocks to guarantee uninterrupted supply to the market, according to Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka's recent testimony in Parliament. This directive follows a decline in fuel deliveries from some private distributors, driven by higher international prices. Private companies have acknowledged losses due to the price gap between local and global markets, leading to reduced supplies. As a result, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) now controls 82% of the diesel market, up from around 54% in February. The CPC has increased its releases to counteract private distributors' reductions. The government, under existing agreements, cannot determine exact volumes for individual filling stations but mandates minimum stock maintenance. Those failing to meet the required stocks are urged to take measures to avoid supply disruptions. Karunathilaka suggested that the queues at some filling stations were due to reduced supplies from private distributors, alongside typical variations in distribution. He also noted that CPC fuel demand has risen since private companies typically do not offer credit to dealers, while CPC provides a three-day credit facility. The minister expects the situation to improve by Wednesday or Thursday as the CPC takes on the additional burden. A special meeting with officials from the Energy Ministry, CPC, and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled for today to discuss the issue further. Meanwhile, the Petroleum Dealers’ Association has called for an urgent resolution, citing queues at many filling stations, particularly those operated by private distributors, due to decreased orders from major fuel importers like Lanka IOC, Sinopec, and R.M. Parks. The Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners Association has advised motorists against panic buying, stating there is no nationwide fuel supply disruption.",
  "summary": "Govt. tells fuel distributors to maintain stocks to ensure uninterrupted supplies by Saman Indrajith and Norman Palihawadane The government had instructed private fuel distributors to maintain minimum stocks and ensure uninterrupted supplies to the market, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka told Parliament yesterday (06). Karunathilaka said the Ministry of Energy Secretary had notified the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}