President calls for practical fuel conservation plans across ministries

Colombo, March 17 (Daily Mirror) - President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (17) instructed all ministries to develop practical, sustainable, and data-driven plans for fuel conservation to ensure minimal energy consumption across public and private sectors. 

He further directed that a detailed report on the matter be submitted promptly at the ministerial level.

The instructions were issued during a meeting with the committee overseeing the distribution of essential goods, held at the Presidential Secretariat. The committee, appointed following a discussion yesterday (16) with Ministers and Ministry Secretaries, is tasked with ensuring the uninterrupted functioning of both state and private supply chains, guaranteeing the availability of essential goods at fair prices without shortages.

Discussions also focused on addressing the rise in goods prices linked to fuel costs, with strategies considered to maintain fair prices for essential food items while protecting farmers’ interests. A coordinated plan is being developed with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation in consultation with state and private institutions, including Sathosa and wholesale importers, to meet fuel requirements for essential services.

Attention was given to ensuring fuel supply for the tourism sector, multi-day fishing boats, port and airport operations, agriculture, hospitals, industrialists, and construction activities. The meeting also covered continuation of the QR system for hotels, maximum fuel allocation for health services, and coordination with farmers’ associations for agricultural fuel needs.

The President emphasized the importance of maintaining an updated information system to regularly review fuel requirements and ensure full intervention where necessary to sustain the country’s economy and public services under current conditions.

The discussion was attended by senior officials, including Ministers Wasantha Samarasinghe, Bimal Ratnayake, K.D. Lalkantha, Kumara Jayakody, Sunil Handunnethi, Anura Karunathilaka, Secretaries to the President and relevant ministries, senior officials from key line institutions, the Chairmen of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Sri Lanka Tourism Board, and other stakeholders.