Sri Lanka, March 23 -- The Government has granted permission to 11 companies holding storage licences to independently import, store, and sell fuel (including diesel and low/high-sulphur fuel) to specific private-sector industries in US dollars.

This has been done in order to reduce the pressure on fuel stocks imported by State-owned enterprises and avoid supply delays.

The decision was taken according to an official letter issued by Energy Ministry Secretary Udayanga Hemapala on March 17. Accordingly, these companies will be allowed to import and sell diesel, low-sulfur fuel and high-sulfur fuel for three months from March 17. These companies can sell their fuel stocks to exporters, power generation companies, registered tourism servic...