Petroleum Resources Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has directed relevant officials to withdraw the circular issued this morning for fuel stations to issue petrol only to vehicles, with immediate effect.
Secretary to the ministry Upali Marasinghe had issued a circular to all filling stations declaring that petrol should be pumped only to vehicles until the fuel crisis has been averted.
Issuing petrol to bottles, canisters and other objects was prohibited i the wake of complains that it had led to fuel stations having insufficient stocks of petrol for vehicles.
However, the decision to issue the circular had come under harsh criticism from the consumers and politicians who argued that vehicles with no petrol cannot be driven to filling stations and hence it was necessary to allow petrol to be pumped to bottled and cans.
Even the Ceylon Motorcyclists’ Association had issued a statement condemning the decision to issue such a circular.
