Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday stressed that there is no shortage of aviation fuel for passenger airlines calling and departing Sri Lanka during the upcoming tourist season.
He emphasized that a systematic process is on line to supply aviation fuel without shortage for all passenger airlines calling and departing Sri Lanka during the upcoming tourist season.
He was speaking at a meeting held at the Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry with relevant parties.
Representatives of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), at the discussion pointed out that at present, 5600 MT of aviation fuel has been stocked at the airport bunker facility in Katunayake, 5575 MT at the Kolonnawa Terminal and therefore, there was no shortage of aviation fuel in Sri Lanka for the next 17 days.
A vessel carrying 30,000 MT of aviation fuel started unloading yesterday at the Port of Colombo and this fulfills the requirement for another 65 days ahead they said.
The Minster also emphasized that it was top essential to import more quantity of aviation fuel according to the forecast increase of the number of passenger airlines during the upcoming season.
The Minister pointed out that the fuel importation has now been open for the private sector according to the amended Petroleum Act passed in the parliament recently. The Minister said that Sri Lanka Ports Authority has already started the facilitation process for private sector investors for fuel storage facilities inside the Port of Colombo and instructed the Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development to arrange required facilitation and approvals for the investors calling for these investments as per provisions extended by the new Act.
Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry Secretary K.D.S.Ruwanchandra, officials of the Airport and Aviation (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited, Civil Aviation Authority and CPC also attended the discussions.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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