Depot fuel shortages disrupt private bus services

Colombo, March 21 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka’s already strained public transport system is facing fresh uncertainty as fuel distribution inconsistencies at depot level begin to disrupt private bus operations across the country.

President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA), Gemunu Wijeratne, raised concerns that the absence of a properly implemented fuel quota mechanism has created uneven access to fuel, leaving many operators struggling to remain on the road.

He pointed out that while some Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) depots continue to supply fuel to private buses, others have run dry, forcing operators to return empty-handed after લાં waits in queues. This uneven distribution, he said, is now emerging as a key bottleneck in maintaining regular bus services.

Wijeratne said that despite discussions and data collection efforts by authorities, including the National Transport Commission, a practical and consistent system has yet to be enforced. Although a quota framework has reportedly been arranged for around 1,700 long-distance buses, its implementation on the ground remains unclear.

The issue is further compounded by operational challenges, as bus owners are being directed to refuel during daytime hours—disrupting scheduled services and reducing efficiency.

With existing fuel reserves from the previous week now depleted, Wijeratne warned that the current allocation—limited to 60 litres per bus under the QR-based system—is insufficient to sustain normal operations.

If the situation persists, he cautioned that the country could see a sharp drop in bus availability, with services potentially slashed by up to 50% in the coming days.

He urged the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and transport authorities to urgently streamline fuel distribution and implement a reliable quota system to prevent a deeper transport crisis.