Sri Lanka Cracks Down on Fuel Hoarding Amid Mideast Tensions

RunWithRugs · 2026-03-03T12:25:24+00:00

Sri Lanka's Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has banned fuel dispensing into containers to combat black market sales. The chairman assured sufficient petrol and diesel supplies despite rising demand amid Middle Eastern conflicts.

RunWithRugs

2026-03-03 12:25:24

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(MENAFN) Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has ordered all fuel stations to immediately stop dispensing fuel into bottles or cans, as stated by reports. The move comes after intelligence indicated that some individuals were buying fuel in containers and reselling it on the black market at inflated prices.

D.J. Rajakaruna, chairman of the corporation, said fuel stations are instructed not to provide fuel for such containers “until further notice.” On Sunday, long queues formed at gas stations as fears of shortages grew due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

Rajakaruna added that the country currently has sufficient petrol for 37 days and diesel for 35 days. He also noted that over 1.3 million liters of diesel and 2,019,600 liters of Octane 92 petrol were distributed nationwide by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, despite it being a government holiday.

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