- Title: Sri Lanka deploys military to distribute fuel amid strike
- Date: 26th July 2017
- Summary: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (JULY 26, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STRIKING WORKERS STANDING OUTSIDE A FACILITY OF CEYLON PETROLEUM CORPORATION VARIOUS OF ARMY SPECIAL TASK FORCE PERSONNEL AND POLICE GUARDING ENTRANCE TO THE PETROLEUM COMPLEX SPECIAL TASK FORCE SHIELDS VARIOUS OF SPECIAL TASK FORCE PERSONNEL LOOKING AT PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF VEHICLES QUEUING AT PETROL STATION VARIOUS OF MAN FILLING VEHICLE UP WITH PETROL (SOUNDBITE) (Sinhala) TAXI DRIVER, SHEKAR RAJU, SAYING: "With the current situation in the country, it is difficult lead a normal life. When this kind of thing happens it is tough for the people" VARIOUS OF QUEUES OF VEHICLES OUTSIDE PETROL STATION NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS SRI LANKAN CABINET SPOKESMAN AND HEALTH MINISTER, RAJITHA SENARATNE (RIGHT), SITTING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Sinhala) SRI LANKAN CABINET SPOKESMAN AND HEALTH MINISTER, RAJITHA SENARATNE, SAYING: "By this evening every part of the country will get fuel. The distribution will start shortly." JOURNALISTS SITTING AT NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 9th August 2017 11:16
- Keywords: Sri Lanka fuel strike army distribution patrol stations
- Location: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
- City: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
- Country: Sri Lanka
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016RCSQBP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Sri Lanka deployed hundreds of soldiers and police on Wednesday (July 26) to help distribute fuel around the country following disruptions caused by a strike by workers from a state-run petroleum company.
Long lines have formed at petrol stations across the Indian Ocean island nation since Monday (July 24) evening, when workers of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation walked out in protest of the government's decision to lease oil storage facilities to India and China.
On Wednesday, the trade union said they would be continuing with the strike a day after Sri Lanka's cabinet cleared a revised agreement for its Chinese-built southern port of Hambantota. The port, close to the world's busiest shipping lanes, has been mired in controversy ever since state-run China Merchants Port Holdings, which built it for $1.5 billion, signed an agreement taking an 80 percent stake.
Local media says the government has meanwhile declared the petroleum industry an 'essential service', and said those who do not report to their posts will be considered permanently gone. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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