After the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation finally put to rest the long-drawn fiasco regarding the importation of substandard petrol which left many vehicle owners seeking compensation for their malfunctioning vehicles, problems regarding diesel imports have now surfaced. Vehicle owners and state institutions alike have reported malfunctioning vehicles and huge losses due to the use of substandard diesel and the CPC is on the brink of yet another angry public backlash.

A three-member committee has been appointed by Ministry of Petroleum Industries to look into complaints of substandard diesel. It has been reported that several buses, trains and cars have been affected after using substandard diesel.

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has suffered losses of around Rs.6 million due to the use of substandard diesel, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama stated. The Minister said that ten busses operating on the expressway have stalled 38 times on the road while the he added that it costs Rs.600,000 to change the filters alone.

Several buses of the Ambalangoda Depot were in an unusable state due to an effect from the diesel used for the buses.

Meanwhile,a total of 26 vehicles of the Department of Post had been damaged after using substandard diesel, according to Postal Trade Unions.

Minister of Petroleum Susil Premajayantha stated that the substandard diesel was imported by a black listed company with the approval of the former Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman.

The blacklisted company was allegedly handed a fine following which it was given its license to continue importing oil to the country by the former CPC Chairman, the Minister further said.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) meanwhile stated that the company which allegedly supplied substandard diesel has been removed from its list of Registered Suppliers, until inquiries into incidents of vehicles malfunctioning from inferior diesel use are completed.

Who should be held responsible for this situation? Will this be a common occurrence in the future? What steps should be taken concerning the latest problem at the CPC? This is your forum. Let your voice be heard.