News
Minister Gammanpila assures no shortage of fuel due to closure of refinery
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Minister of Energy, Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery would be closed for 50 days, but the closure would not affect fuel supplies.
Addressing the media yesterday in Colombo, the Minister said the government had been compelled to adopt that measure as it was utilising its limited foreign reserves frugally.
“Our refinery is 51-years-old. Out of the total production of the refinery, 37% is furnace oil and naphtha, 19% jet fuel and 43% petrol and diesel. Due to heavy rains, the CEB produces over 50% of electricity with hydro power. Thus, the Ministry of Power has informed us that it does not need furnace oil. Moreover only long distance flights need jet fuel. Thus, there is little sense to import crude oil because 56% of it is used for producing furnace oil and jet fuel. Those reserves can be used to import petrol, diesel, medicines, food, gas and other essential goods,” the minister said.
Minister Gammanpila said that the refinery only produced 14% of the country’s total petrol needs and 29% of diesel needs of the country. He added that Sri Lanka spent about USD 350 million a month to import fuel.
“The CPC finds it extremely hard to obtain loans. Given that international rating agencies have downgraded Sri Lanka, it has become really hard to get loans. We will start importing crude oil when the balance of payment crisis is over,” he said.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Ms. P. M. Jayadeera (Engineer) in the Special Grade of Sri Lanka Engineering Service serving at present as the Additional Secretary (Water Resources Development) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to the post of Director General which will be vacant from 06.10.2026.
Approval has been granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 08.06.2026 to prepare a draft bill for restructuring Sri Lanka Cricket.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated Sri Lanka draft bill providing legal provisions for the administration of Sri
Lanka Cricket, control, regulation, promotion, establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket for the development and administration, through the concepts of better governance, integrity, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and providing equal opportunities for the betterment of the cricket sport, establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket for securing the wellbeing of all participants and securing cricket from corruption and other mal practices.
Clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the said draft bill. Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been received for the resolution furnished by the Minister of
Youth Affairs and Sports to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation performs vitally important functions such as minimizing the risk of inundation in urban and lowland areas, maintaining drainage systems efficiently, carrying out urgent operations during inundation events, and maintaining canals.
The need to strengthen the capacity of the corporation’s internal
operations has been identified by the corporation to perform the aforementioned functions efficiently and expeditiously.
The corporation has planned to purchase small -scale machinery that can be used to clean small canals, which significantly contribute to urban inundation.
The General Treasury has agreed to grant 625 million rupees as an equity contribution for purchasing the relevant machinery.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to purchase the relevant machinery by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, following formal procurement procedures at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,233
million, utilizing the aforementioned amount granted by the General Treasury and the funds of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation.
Ms. P. M. Jayadeera (Engineer) appointed Director General of Irrigation
Sri Lanka Cricket Draft Bill to be gazetted
Cabinet approves purchase of machinery for the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation
Cabinet approval for Project to Build Secure, Skilled, and Empowered Community for families resettled at the at Kalinga Mawatha, housing scheme
Appointment of Cabinet Sub-Committee for the Organization of 79th Independence Day Commemoration
Establishment of New Management Framework for the Dr. Nevil Fernando Hospital
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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