Station restrictions fuel black market

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three fuel stations in the Chavakachcheri area, south of Jaffna, require a special military permit before they can issue petrol to consumers, while petrol is sold at exorbitant rates in the black-market nearby, said sources in Jaffna.

This rule, which is imposed only in these three fuel stations in the entire peninsula, requires all purchases of fuel be recommended by the Grama Sevaka (grass-root level government official) and be approved by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA).

A permit allows two litres of petrol to be issued for motorbikes and 10 litres of diesel for tractors.

The black-market rate for petrol, which is sold openly at a shop nearby, is 120 rupees (US$ 1.93) a litre. Whereas in the open market it fluctuates between 52 and 55 rupees.

The requirement for permits is affecting the farmers Chavakachcheri, who are at present using tractors for winnowing their harvest, said sources.