The government will continue the QR system for fuel distribution as Middle East conflicts remain unresolved, Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today.

Responding to a question at the post-Cabinet media briefing, the Minister said the QR mechanism must remain in place to manage supplies, noting that while consumption has reduced, the impact is limited. 

Minister Jayatissa further explained that instability in the Strait of Hormuz continues to affect global oil prices, with barrel costs fluctuating. “The oil crisis has not yet been resolved. As a country, we are using this system to maintain daily life as much as possible without disruption,” he said.

According to the Minister, diesel consumption has dropped by 10% and petrol by 9% since the QR system was introduced. Supplies are being prioritized for essential sectors. He added that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is expected to continue the system for some time. (Newswire)

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The government is considering discontinuing the current odd-even fuel distribution system and increasing fuel quotas as part of ongoing adjustments to the national fuel management programme, officials said.

The announcement came during the sixth meeting of the committee on maintaining continuity in public service, held at the Prime Minister’s Office under the leadership of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

Officials confirmed that Sri Lanka has sufficient fuel stocks until August 2026 and that requests have already been made to secure supplies for the remainder of the year, underscoring the government’s commitment to long‑term energy security.

Addressing the meeting, PM Harini Amarasuriya stressed that the government’s management of the energy crisis has prevented hardships seen in other countries.

“We managed the crisis so that it did not become a burden on the people. In other countries, there are fuel queues and power cuts, but we handled it properly. The crisis is not over yet, so we must continue to act with vigilance,” she said.

The meeting further focused on sustainable energy management and future measures, including appointing Energy Managers in all state institutions, shifting towards renewable energy sources, and introducing the Green Building Concept under the national Clean Sri Lanka programme.

“Sustainable energy management and educating the public are essential. We must ensure electricity is provided properly during Vesak week,” PM Amarasuriya added.

The session was attended by senior officials, including the Prime Minister’s Secretary Pradeep Saputhanthri, the Presidential Chief of Staff B.K. Prabath Chandrakirthi, and secretaries from the ministries of public administration, health, transport, and energy. (Newswire)

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The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said that the QR code fuel quota system for petrol vehicles will be reinstated from midnight today (April 18) after a temporary suspension.

CPC Chairman D. J. Rajakaruna said the fuel quotas allocated for petrol vehicles will remain unchanged.

The system was suspended from midnight on April 11 due to the festive season.

From midnight April 18, fuel will again be issued to all vehicles only under the QR code quota system, in line with the odd-even number plate method. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Digital Economy has announced that the fuel quota for non-vehicle categories will be increased in the coming week. 

Addressing the media on Thursday (26), Advisor to the Ministry, Sumudu Ratnayake, said steps are being taken to introduce a QR code system for the non-vehicle category, including generators, fishing vessels, and agricultural vehicles. 

“They will be able to obtain fuel by presenting the QR code at fuel stations. On Monday, we will clearly outline the procedure for obtaining fuel under this category,” he said. 

Sri Lanka has introduced fuel limits through a QR system following the impact on fuel supply due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet has approved a proposal to implement a programme to promote QR code-based digital payments, with no additional fees charged to either the sender or the receiver for transactions below Rs. 5,000.

The move is aimed at accelerating the adoption of digital payments as part of broader efforts to enhance economic efficiency, financial inclusion, and transparency.

Although the LankaQR system is currently linked with more than 20 financial institutions and nearly 30 mobile applications, its usage remains relatively low, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

In the third quarter of 2025, around 274,000 transactions were recorded via LankaQR, with a total value of approximately Rs. 1.18 billion. On average, this translates to about 90,000 transactions per month, with a total value of around Rs. 390 million. The average transaction value remains below Rs. 5,000, he added.

Asked whether the government plans to introduce an upper limit on transactions and reduce additional taxes on consumers, Minister Jayatissa said authorities are working toward a broader plan to promote digital payments.

The proposal was presented by the President in his capacity as Minister of Digital Economy, in line with the 2026 Budget, and received Cabinet approval. (Newswire)

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Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has refuted reports claiming a discussion has been held to re-introduce the National Fuel Pass QR system in Sri Lanka. 

Taking to ‘X’, Minister Wijeseker said that the government, Ministry of Power and Energy or the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has not engaged in any discussion to re-introduce the National Fuel Pass QR system or any quota system for fuel.

He further said that the Ministry, CPC, and the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) have only held discussions to plan for cargo requirements for the next 12 months.

Discussions have also been held to increase the existing storage capacities at CPSTL Kollonnawa, the Mutthurajawela terminals, and regional depots to maintain a larger buffer stock, he added.

The minister’s comments come in response to reports on local media channel Ada Derana and The Morning newspaper, claiming the reintroduction of the National Fuel Pass QR system. 

In September 2023, the Ministry of Power and Energy suspended the National Fuel Pass QR system.

A QR system was initially introduced for fuel purchase following the fuel crisis faced in Sri Lanka in 2022, which resulted in long queues at fuel stations. (NewsWire)

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