It has been revealed that the number of airplanes arriving and departing from Sri Lanka has decreased significantly due to the difficulty in obtaining aviation fuel.
A special discussion on the measures to be taken to immediately change this situation and stabilize the aviation sector was held in the ministry auditorium under the chairmanship of the Minister of Ports, Navigation and Aviation Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva.
Representatives representing all Sri Lankan Aviation societies including Civil Aviation authorities and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation also participated in this special discussion.
The Minister pointed out the need for a program to provide jet fuel to the planes arriving and departing Sri Lanka without any hindrance.
Accordingly, the minister emphasized that if the Ceylon Petroleum corporation is unable to meet this requirement, a private sector party should be allowed to bring jet fuel to Sri Lanka.
On this occasion, several companies representing the aviation industry stated that they are ready to bring and distribute jet fuel to Sri Lanka at their own expense if the Petroleum Corporation and the Ministry of Petroleum provide permission and facilities.
At this time, the representatives of the Petroleum Corporation said that two crude oil ships have already reached Sri Lanka and that the Sapugaskanda Refinery can handle six hundred metric tons of jet fuel per day and continue to supply jet fuel from the 20th of this month.
The Civil Aviation Authority was instructed to study the daily fuel quantities required for each airline service and the measures taken by the Petroleum Statutory Corporation to provide it.
It was pointed out that SriLankan Airlines has arranged its destinations through airports in India to meet its fuel requirements, and due to bringing in fuel, they have difficulties in transporting the full amount of passengers and cargo.
Airline representatives who pointed out that more flights will arrive at Katunayake Airport especially in the coming months when the tourist season begins also showed that it is essential to continuously provide the necessary amounts of aviation fuel.
The Minister pointed out that removing the monopoly power given to the Petroleum Corporation to bring aviation fuel is a need of the hour and also pointed out that a bill to amend the Petroleum Act has already been submitted to the Parliament for that purpose and that it should be passed soon.
Also, he stated that the Petroleum Corporation is working to provide facilities for storing more aviation fuel and advised to check this and take steps to store the necessary fuel at the airport as well as outside the airport, taking into account the future requirements.
