News

Govt. settling fuel debts – Minister

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/4

By Ifham Nizam

The government has allocated nearly USD 80 million for settling debts, related to fossil fuel purchases, and for further fossil fuel intake, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told journalists yesterday, adding that 10 fuel shipments would arrive here within days.

USD 11 million had been paid to Lanka IOC on 30 June for the procurement of 7,500 MT of diesel, Minister Wijesekera said.

Prepayments had been made for two other companies, namely Indian Coal Energy that would supply 40,000 MT of auto diesel between 08 July and 09 July.A shipment of 40,000MT from Vitol is scheduled to reach the country between 11 and 14 July 11.

Wijesekara said that USD 28 million had been paid for that consignment, while another USD 49 million was slated to be paid on 08 July.Wijesekera also said that they were also expecting two more fuel shipments, containing both petrol and diesel either on 22 or 23 July.

Providing an update on the availability of fuel in the country, he said nearly 12,774 MT of diesel, 1,414 MT of petrol 92 octane, 2,647 MT of petrol 95 octane, 233 MT of super diesel, 500 MT of aviation fuel and 29,000 MT of furnace oil were in stock at present.

The Minister said that they are expecting the following fuel shipments this month:

July 08-09: 40,000 MT of diesel (Ceypetco),

July 11-14: 40,000 MT of diesel (Ceypetco)

July 13-15: 30,000 MT of diesel/petrol (LIOC),

July 22-23: 40,000 MT of diesel (pending approval)

July 22-23: 40,000 MT of petrol (Ceypetco),

July 29-31: 30,000 MT of diesel/petrol (LIOC) and

August 13-15: 30,000 MT of diesel/petrol (LIOC)

Nearly 110,000 MT of diesel, 70,000 MT of petrol and 40,000 MT of diesel (pending approval) will arrive in the country, the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Lanka IOC said it was expecting three shipments of petrol and diesel in Sri Lanka this month and in August. The first shipment is expected between 13 and 15 July. The second shipment is expected to reach between 29 and 31 July, while the third shipment is scheduled to arrive between August 10 and 15.

Each vessel will be carrying 30,000 metric tonnes of fuel, according to Lanka IOC Chairman Manoj Gupta. All these shipments will be arriving from Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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News

Cabinet nod to accept Japanese government grant of 08 used low floorboard buses

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to accept 08 used low floorboard buses offered as a grant by the Government of Japan.

News

Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

While approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 18.08.2025 to pay the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Maha season 2025/26, the programme is planned to be continued for the Yala season 2026 as well.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to pay a financial subsidy of Rupees 25,000/- per hectare and for a maximum of 02 hectares per farmer for paddy cultivation and to pay Rupees 15,000/- per hectare for field crops cultivated in paddy lands[maximum of 02 hectares per farmer]

News

Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The rural agricultural livelihood and food security have been severely impacted due to the damage caused by wild animals such as elephants, wild boars, monkeys, toque macaque, squirrels, and peacocks roaming around human habitats and cultivated lands.

Animal-human conflicts and property destruction have mostly been reported around these areas, and serious social and economic issues have also arisen.

Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation has prepared a comprehensive program based on the opinions of all stakeholders, including the public, university community, farmers’ organizations, environmentalists, non-governmental organizations which work for environmental issues, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Development, and other relevant organizations.

Taking into consideration the report submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to appoint a ministerial committee with the participation of other relevant ministers, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, to submit appropriate recommendations on how the aforementioned program should be implemented by further reviewing the proposals included in the said program and incorporating new proposals.