Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 What is the country’s present stock of petroleum fuels, and for how many days will it be adequate?

¶ 02 Recently, His Excellency the President told this House there was no cause for fear: that Sri Lanka had diesel for 33 days, petrol for 27 days, and aviation fuel for 49 days; and that there was also a crude oil inventory adequate for 44 days. Yet, within a week, prices were increased on the existing old stocks. Therefore, please present the truthful information on the actual fuel inventory available today.

¶ 03 Does Sri Lanka maintain a strategic petroleum reserve for emergencies? If so, what is its quantity?

¶ 04 Hon. Speaker, this is a very important question. We were told fuel would be supplied at ex-wharf price. Therefore, with immediate effect, the Government should remove all taxes from fuel — VAT, Social Security Contribution Levy, production-related taxes, customs import duty, Special Commodity Levy, etc. One hundred and fifty-nine Members were appointed on the promise of ex-wharf fuel. Hence, do not increase prices now; reduce them. I propose the Government act accordingly and inform us.

¶ 05 What is the contingency management plan the Ministry of Energy follows to ensure uninterrupted domestic fuel supply in the event of global supply disruptions and sharp price spikes?

¶ 06 Please table it in Parliament.

¶ 07 If global oil prices rise by 20–30 percent, has the Ministry of Energy assessed the impact on Sri Lanka’s fuel import bill, the national economy, and inflation?

¶ 08 We hear this is handled by the Ministry of Finance. In a crisis, ministries must work together. Have you studied the impacts? If so, provide the study to Parliament. We also heard from the Government side that the Treasury and Finance Ministry are overflowing with funds — the so-called BOAMOs. If so, will the Government grant relief to our 7.5 million electricity consumers and to all consumers at large?

¶ 09 What assessment has the Government made of possible impacts on our fuel supply due to disruptions to international sea lanes in the Middle East, and of alternative energy transport routes and modalities?

¶ 10 I wish to alert the Government: if there is an attack on Iran’s Kharg Island petroleum refineries, it will create a grave, tragic situation. Have you studied this? If Kharg Island’s petroleum resources are damaged and met with counterattacks, under such conditions what mechanisms — alternative mechanisms — will ensure the country’s fuel needs are met? Have you studied this?

¶ 11 Also, under the QR code-based fuel distribution system reactivated from 2026.03.15, on what scientific basis were the weekly quotas determined? Does the Ministry of Energy accept that these quotas are inadequate for daily needs? If so, should they not be revised?

¶ 12 Hon. Speaker, there is a serious issue. Due to vehicle sales and ownership transfers, and because old owners remain recorded in the QR system, current owners are unable to register for QR codes. Is the Government aware? If so, why has the QR system not been streamlined and made efficient? Many are under severe hardship due to this.

¶ 13 Further, weekly allocations — 60 litres for buses, 5 for motorcycles, 40 for vans, 15 for cars, 200 for lorries, 25 for land vehicles, 15 for three-wheelers, 40 for special purpose vehicles — are widely considered insufficient. Will the Government, understanding the realities, revise these fairly?

¶ 14 I must also highlight the bus sector, three-wheeler sector, school van sector, and the farming community. It is harvest time, yet they cannot operate harvesting equipment. The fishing community too; and the health and medical sectors, essential services personnel, container haulage drivers, and vehicle importers — across sectors there is strong discontent about the quotas. What is the Government’s solution?

¶ 15 What is the national prioritization mechanism to allocate fuel for essential services — electricity generation, water, and transport — when fuel supply is constrained?

¶ 16 I also forgot to raise the tourism sector. Tourism is giving our country a big boost now.