The government has increased fuel prices with effect from today (21), the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said.
Accordingly, the price of 92 Octane Petrol has been increased by Rs. 20 per litre with the new price declared as Rs. 177 per litre.
The price of 95 Octane Petrol has been increased by Rs. 23, from Rs. 184 to Rs. 207.
Auto Diesel has been increased by Rs. 10 while Super Diesel has been increased by Rs. 15. The new prices are Rs. 121 per litre of Auto Diesel and Rs. 159 per litre of Super Diesel.
The price of Kerosene has also been increased by Rs. 10, from Rs. 77 per litre to Rs. 87.
Earlier today, it was reported that Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal had written to Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on increasing fuel prices.
Global oil prices plunge
Meanwhile, oil prices continued to slump as surging cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Europe and the United States stoked investor worries that new restrictions to combat its spread could dent fuel demand.
Brent crude futures fell USD 2, or 2.7%, to settle at USD 71.52 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell USD 2.63, or 3.7%, to settle at USD 68.23 a barrel.
Brent fell to a session low of USD 69.28 per barrel, while WTI sank to USD 66.04 per barrel, both their lowest levels since early December.
No fuel shortage - Energy Minister assures
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila had moved to assure that there are sufficient fuel reserves in the country to last until mid-January next year.
He also added that even though there is a problem in opening the relevant Letters of Credit, there is no need to worry of fuel shortage as four or five fuel ships are scheduled to arrive every week.
It was reported on social media that the government was mulling a fuel price hike from December 16.
However, Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said on Twitter that there is no truth in the news published on social media of a fuel price hike.
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