Fuel Crisis: Collective understanding is the key to overcoming challenges

The main issue Sri Lanka is currently encountering is ensuring a continued supply of energy, fuel and electricity, which is directly and closely depending on the international energy market which has been shaken by the ongoing war

The shockwaves of the Middle East war that was started by the US and Israel by launching unprovoked attacks on Iran on February 28 ripple through almost every country in the world. 

Going by  statements made by the leaders, Sri Lanka is going to face a dire situation due to the very short time gap the country was left with to prepare for this shock. The changing stances on the part of American President Donald Trump on the conclusion of the war seem to make it difficult  leaders all other countries to decide anything on the home front. 

The main issue Sri Lanka is currently encountering is ensuring a continued supply of energy, fuel and electricity, which is directly and closely depending on the international energy market which has been shaken by the ongoing war. The contention following the energy crisis in Sri Lanka in 2022 that offering local fuel distribution to Indian and Chinese companies would help minimise such crises has been disproved due to the big power involvement in the current crisis.

While the country is currently struggling to streamline the fuel distribution, the power supply also seems to be at stake. Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, while ensuring that there would be no power cuts for the moment, warned that a time may come when we will have to impose power interruptions. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also shared the same view on the previous day in Parliament. 

The current energy issue is different from the one the country faced in 2022. It was a foreign exchange crisis  due to long term mismanagement of the economy that was behind the crisis in 2022,  while the current problem is the result of a war situation in the world’s main oil producing region and lack of storage infrastructure in the country for both fuel and electricity. 

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a speech in Parliament explained the energy storage issue with statistical details in respect of fuel storage capacities. And this was later confirmed by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Managing Director Mayura Neththikumara and Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath. The President noted that Sri Lanka generates a significant amount of solar power during the day; however, due to a lack of storage facilities, this energy must be used immediately, often resulting in surplus power that cannot be stored.

Both the government and the Opposition trade accusations for the root cause of  this problem, with  government leaders blaming  previous governments for not developing sufficient storage infrastructure,  while the Opposition is quick to recall the protests launched by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the main constituent party of the ruling National People’s Power (NPP),  against handing over the development of Trincomalee oil tank farm to India. 

However, Sri Lanka entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2025 between Sri Lanka, India, and the UAE to develop Trincomalee as a regional energy hub. Minister Herath  stated this week that the government was looking to fast-track the redevelopment of the World War II-era oil storage facilities in Trincomalee as a long-term solution to its ongoing energy crisis. Yet, it is clear that these facilities would not help solve our immediate problem.

The public support and understanding are vital in coping with the current problem as this is an international issue aggravated by our own past. Yet, such support and understanding are yet to be forthcoming. While Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa calls on the public to use fuel sparingly, hoarding continues unabated. The President also requested  electric vehicle owners to charge their vehicles during daytime when the country generates a significant amount of solar power which cannot be stored due to lack of storage facilities. It is not clear if this is viable for practical and attitudinal reasons. A clear understanding between the government and the public is of paramount importance in this regard.