The Sri Lanka Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association has decided to withdraw from fuel transport services with effect from midnight today (April 30).

The joint secretary of the association, D.V. Shantha Silva said, through their trade union action, they want to urge the authorities to increase their transport charges, in line with the increase in fuel prices.

Speaking further, he said the association has sought the revision of their transport charges following the fuel price hike. However, a positive response was not received for this request during the meeting held with the energy minister last evening.

As the authorities dismissed their requests, the executive committee of the association, which convened a meeting last night, has decided to withdraw from fuel transport duties, effective from midnight today.

Meanwhile, deploying Sri Lanka Army personnel to monitor the fuel distribution commenced today.

The army stated that it would observe whether the fuel bowsers are reaching the filling stations on time after leaving their respective terminals.

After the fuel bower departs the terminal, the army camp in charge of the area where the fuel consignment is transported will be notified and a team of officers will be dispatched to the relevant locations.

In addition to the main fuel storage complexes in  Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela, a total of 12 fuel distribution centres are in operation across the country.