(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera says that petroleum services has been declared as an essential services for the last 6 months and if any employee or trade union is found breaching the essential services regulations and disrupting services, immediate legal and disciplinary action will be taken against them.
A group of employees of the Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela Ceylon Petroleum Corporation fuel distribution centers have launched a trade union action to protest the Petroleum Products Special Provisions Amendment Bill that is to be taken for debate in parliament today.
Petroleum trade union representatives said that Ceylon Petroleum Corporation employees at Kolonnawa, Sapugaskanda and Muthurajawela fuel distribution centers will report sick leave today to express their opposition to the move by the Minister of Power Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera to present the Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Bill in Parliament today.
Minister Wijesekera said the Petroleum Special Provisions Act Amendment will pave the way for the liberalization of the Petroleum industry and facilitate new global retail suppliers to Sri Lanka, encourage investments, and setup an energy supply committee to regulate.
The Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill was approved by the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Power and Energy on October 04 with amendments in accordance with the decisions given by the Supreme Court.
This Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill provides for the importation, supply and distribution of fuel to parties other than the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Ceylon Indian Oil Company.
