Army Entered The Fuel Storing Complexes In Kolonnawa And Muthurajawela To Ensure Fuel Distribution- Striking Workers Removed From The Complexes

Army personal have entered the Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela Fuel storing complexes early this morning(26)and ensured the fuel distributing process which stopped due to the Island wide continuous strike launched by Petroleum workers , with the help of non striking staff of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation it has been reported.

Army have removed the striking staff of the Kolonnawa and Muthurajawla fuel storing complexes and ensured the security of non striking workers who now engaged in fuel distribution process.

However the removed strikers are still stay in front of the fuel storing complexes it has been revealed.

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A Large vehicle queues have seen in front of the fuel filling stations belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Indian Oil Company Island wide since yesterday(25) to get fuel .The Petroleum Trade Unions Collective had launched the continuous strike since midnight on Monday(24) demanding to take over the Oil tank complexes at China harbor  in Trincomalee and Hambanthota and urgently refurbish the Sapugaskande oil refinery .

Petroleum Trade Unions collective has yesterday announced it will continue their strike until the demands are met after failure of talks held between the representatives of the unions and authorities last evening.

Meanwhile Government has issued a Gazette last night(25) making fuel distribution of the country as an essential service ,According to the Gazette issued  by the Presidential Secretary Austin Fernando as per the order of President Maithripala Sirisena supply and distribution of all Petroleum products and liquid gases are essential.

It the striking petroleum workers not return to work after announcing the fuel distribution as an essential service they will be considered as vacate from their posts the Government has announced.