An additional sum needs to be paid for a fuel shipment scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on July 13, Minister of Power & Energy Kanchana Wijesekara says.

Speaking in the parliament earlier today, the lawmaker said the approval of the committee of officials appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers was received to import required volumes of fuel by July 13.

However, if this fuel shipment is not secured, the public will receive fuel only after July 22, he explained, adding that the only concern is that the supplier has quoted a price which is higher than the usual rates.

According to him, the next shipment of fuel, which is provided by the Indian Oil Corporation to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, is lined up to reach the island between July 22 and 23.

Speaking further, Minister Wijesekara said the advance payment for this company would be made during the day and that the authorities hope to obtain the shipment by July 15.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who addressed the parliament on the supply of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, said plans are afoot to distribute over 100,000 cylinders daily starting from July 10.

The Premier also noted that steps would be taken to distribute 125,000 LP gas cylinders of 12.5kg capacity to meet the daily demand in Colombo.

According to him, LP gas distribution is expected to commence on July 11 following the arrival of the shipment on July 09.

Distribution is planned at 140 centres on July 11 and 12 in Colombo and plans are afoot to distribute over 140,000 LP gas cylinders within 2 days, he continued.

Steps will be taken to distribute 112,000 LP gas cylinders across the country on daily basis from July 10 or 11, PM Wickremesinghe added.

“We expect the existing shortage to reduce by the end of July or in early August.”