The strike launched by representatives of the Union Collective of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) against attempts to privatize the CPC continues for the second consecutive day today.

According to the Chairman of the Collective Jagath Wijegunawardena, a discussion will be held today on the future course of action.

He further said that it was regrettable that Cabinet approval has been granted to hand over state-owned fuel stations to foreign entities.

The representatives of the Union Collective of the CPC launched a strike from 07.00 am yesterday (27) against the privatization of the CPC.

“The CPC is a profit-making state enterprise at present. However, there are attempts to sell the organization which owns over 600 fuel stations to a foreign private company,” Jagath Wijegunawardena alleged.

Meanwhile, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday announced that Cabinet approval has been granted for three foreign entities to enter the fuel retail market in Sri Lanka.

Minister Wijesekera said that approval was granted to award licenses to China’s Sinopec, United Petroleum of Australia and RM Parks of USA in a collaboration with Shell Plc to enter the Fuel Retail market in Sri Lanka.

He further stated that the three companies will be allocated 150 dealer-operated fuel stations, each of which is currently operated by the CPC and that they will be granted a license to operate for 20 years to import, store, distribute and sell petroleum products in Sri Lanka.

Minister Kanchana Wijesekera added that a further 50 fuel stations at new locations will be established by each selected company. (NewsWire)

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