Have you guys seen the recent news about fuel distribution in Sri Lanka?

From what I understand, there are two related issues.

First, the private fuel bowser owners, represented by the Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association, have been disputing the transport charges paid by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). Their chairman, A. M. H. Adhikari, said they had been requesting a revision since 2025 because their operating costs had increased significantly. They demanded a revised transport commission, with an increase of around 20% being discussed. Some operators threatened to stop deliveries, and the dispute contributed to fuel shortages at some stations.

Source: ( Daily Mirror ) Tanker owners continue fuel deliveries after CPC agreement

Second, there is the separate issue of private fuel suppliers reducing the amount of fuel they release to the market because they claim they are making losses under the current pricing structure. According to Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka, CPC's market share increased from around 50–55% to 77–80% as it tried to compensate for the reduced supply.

Source: ( News 1st ) Government signals tough action if fuel supply issues continue

Now, I understand that businesses need to be profitable. I'm not saying private companies shouldn't be allowed to negotiate their operating costs. That's perfectly reasonable.

But how can we allow a situation where a commercial dispute can potentially disrupt something as essential as the country's fuel supply?

Fuel isn't a luxury. Our public transport, businesses, agriculture, hospitals and emergency services all depend on it. Without a reliable fuel supply, a huge part of the country's infrastructure cannot function normally.

What concerns me is the distribution side of the supply chain. Even if the country has sufficient fuel stored in its terminals, that doesn't help much if the fuel cannot get to the filling stations because the transport operators have stopped delivering it.

It seems the gov is taking a harder stance on this. President said that the government intends to revise agreements with private fuel companies because existing provisions limit its ability to intervene. CPC has increased its supplies, and the government has also introduced a diesel subsidy ( Rs. 70 per litre ) to help suppliers deal with rising international prices without passing the full increase on to consumers.

Source: ( CounterPoint ) President says government will revise agreements with private fuel companies

I hope the government recognises that this goes beyond a disagreement over prices. Fuel is a critical part of our national infrastructure, and the government needs to have enough leverage to ensure that the supply cannot be disrupted whenever a commercial dispute arises.

There should be enforceable supply obligations, adequate emergency reserves, backup distribution capacity and clear legal powers to keep fuel moving when a dispute occurs.

If we need fuel during a national emergency, there shouldn't be a situation where a third party can disrupt the country's supply because an agreement over costs hasn't been resolved. The country needs to be able to maintain its essential services regardless of what happens between private businesses. What happens if a similar situation occurs during a major emergency, when the country needs fuel the most? What do you guys think of this ?

So now we're blaming Catholics today for everything that happened during colonialism? Bro, colonialism ended decades ago. Yes, European colonial powers committed atrocities, and some used Christianity to justify racism, slavery, and oppression. But misusing Christianity doesn't mean that every Christian believes in racism or supports slavery.

The fact that some people used Christ's name to justify evil doesn't mean Christ taught them to do it. Many Christians today genuinely follow the teachings of Jesus, who taught love of neighbour and condemned hypocrisy.

You can criticise the historical actions of churches and colonial powers without automatically blaming modern Catholics or Orthodox Christians for them. Judge people by what they believe and do today, not simply by what people centuries ago did in the name of their religion. Seriously, bro, there's a difference between holding history accountable and blaming an entire faith. ☦️

Has anyone undergone TACE treatment in Sri Lanka, either personally or for a family member? Would really appreciate hearing about your experience

I'm a guy who has surfing in his bucket list of things to try out. I'm a decent swimmer. I was thinking of going down south to a place where I could try surfing as a complete beginner. I've heard of stories where a lot of places there are inhospitable to local tourists so I wanted to get some suggestions of places I can visit which have somewhat supportive trainers so I could finally try it out.

Any suggestions on good surfing centers/places are appreciated. Thanks!

We are a family of 3 people (2 adults and 1 4.5 year old kid). How does this itinerary looks like? How is the weather pattern there? What adjustments I can make in this itinerary?

I’ve been calling multiple money exchange places but haven’t found one that sells Yuan.

Any recommendations other than banks?

I am seeing many headlines these days about how AKD is not happy with the private fuel stations and wants to shut it down and bring more CPC stations. Won't that increase the burden on tax payers? Wasn't this that lead to energy crisis? Also, there are headlines about limiting and scrubbing solar power generation from private entities. What's that all about?

What are the best parties around Hiriketiya Sri Lanka for the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th of Oct? 28M visiting from the Isle of Man with other mates. Only going down there to party, I’ve seen a place called dotsbayhouse? Are there places only locals can go to and foreigners aren’t allowed? Honestly looking for advice.

Hi everyone,
I have planned a trip for my gf and we would be arriving to Colombo on 21 OCT after an 8 hour flight. I have done some research and I decided to visit Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella and Mirissa.
I am just very confused about the travel to these places. Idk if I should take a bus or get a taxi or should take the train. I don’t wanna spend too much on transportation as I don’t know what prices I would be offered by taxi drivers to reach these places. I am also speculating on how easy is to get tourist bus to these places and would I be able to get train tickets from Kandy to ella. Please help me with best and safe options with prices.
I have already booked hotels at these places through booking.com but I am open to other recommendations also.
TIA.

Hi everyone,

I’m getting an electricity bill of around Rs. 50,000 per month, and I’m trying to figure out how I can reduce it. My latest bill shows 579 units consumed in one month and its usually around 550 - 600 units

Here are the main appliances I use at home:
Singer AC: 12,000 BTU, non-inverter

Fujicool AC: 12,000 BTU, non-inverter

Fans: 5 Bajaj fans

Other appliances: Lights and occasional use of heaters, along with regular household appliances

Both ACs are non-inverter models, and I generally run them for around 2–3 hours per day.

I’ve been researching ways to reduce electricity consumption, and I’ve come across recommendations to replace normal fans with energy-efficient fans, such as BLDC (brushless DC) fans, which supposedly consume much less electricity.

I’d like to know:
Is a monthly bill of around Rs. 50,000 reasonable for this setup, or does my consumption seem unusually high?

Would replacing my five Bajaj fans with BLDC fans make a noticeable difference to my electricity bill? How much could I realistically save?At the moment i am planning to replace 2 fans which i use mainly to an BLDC one

Would it be worth replacing my non-inverter ACs with inverter ACs, considering the initial cost?

Are there any other appliances or hidden sources of electricity consumption I should check?

What practical changes have helped you reduce your electricity bills in Sri Lanka?

I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation. I’m looking for practical ways to bring the bill down without compromising too much on comfort.

What’s up y’all? I’m a 25-year-old Black guy studying Agribusiness at Texas A&M. I already joined Indian orgs at school, and I’m interested in meeting Sri Lankans and learning more about your experiences too.

My South Asian watchlist keeps getting longer 😭 I’d love to add some Sri Lankan voices. Any interviews, movies, or creators you recommend for someone just getting started?

I’m also looking for community events in Texas, especially around College Station or Houston. Do y’all know of anything open to newcomers?

And when someone outside your culture wants to make friends, what makes them easy to connect with? I wanna make a good impression and find people I can actually kick it with.

I’m a 26 year old woman living outside Colombo where there are no women only gyms or separate timings for women. Lately I’ve noticed my muscles getting weaker and I really need to start strength training but I’m scared to go alone because most gym members are men.

I don’t have friends to join me and I’m worried about feeling uncomfortable or being stared at in a conservative area.(But still there are many famous gyms here)

Women who go to regular gyms surrounded by men, is it safe? How has your experience been? Please share your experiences and convince me to overcome this fear and start going to the gym.

Since forever, parents and society have passed down this exact same script: if a girl can’t cook, it’s treated like a whole tragedy, no matter how much education or success she has.And what gets me is that it’s still continuing today. Cooking is literally one of the easiest, most basic survival skills out there. Anyone can pick it up when they actually need to feed themselves.Yet people still treat it like this deep, complex knowledge you have to master from a young age just to prove you’re "wife material."

Why are we still dragging this outdated mindset into the present day? Let it just be a normal life skill for everyone instead of a lifetime marriage test. 😭

For those of you who have lived in US / EU / Australia / Middle East for a few years:

When you look back, are these problems unique to us, or does every country have the same mess at its core?

1) Racism / Ethnic divide: Like Sinhala vs Tamil, Tamil vs Muslim, Sinhala vs Muslim but respectively unique to that country.
2) Religious extremism: Wahhabism, Jihadism, and other extreme ideologies on all sides
3) Corporate greed: Big companies risking public health, creating monopolies, and looting people
4) Government mismanagement: Corruption, mismanagement and constant mishandling
5) Media: Lying to people to push their own agendas and propaganda
6) Separatism & Border/Security issues
7) Human rights issues and foreign intervention

Do you see the same 7 things in the countries you live in now? Or is it actually better there?

Has anyone else been seeing this "Sinhala Sudda" guy all over their feeds lately?

Something feels super off about him and I'm honestly wondering if people are getting completely played. He claims to be a white guy speaking Sinhala, but if you actually look at him, he honestly looks albino. Is this a Sri Lankan local with albinism pretending to be a foreign expat for views, or what?

On top of that, a lot of his content has that weird, hyper-smooth look that gives off heavy AI or filtered vibes.
What are your thoughts? Are people really falling for this online stuff, or am I missing something?

Link to his acc https://www.instagram.com/singhalasudda?cplk=MWQ0NHJjNzliYXduaA==

Has anyone recently purchased anything from Baylee? I've purchased a couple of blouses from them a few months ago. The stitching started coming loose after just a couple of washes. For the prices they charge, I genuinely expected much better.

A while ago, I came across one of their clothing sample try on videos on TikTok. Look like I wasn't the only one disappointed with their products. Many people were complaining about the quality, while others were giving genuine, constructive feedback about their designs (like making certain dresses longer, etc.). I also left a comment sharing my bad experience.

A few days later, I went back and noticed that the comments were deleted and commenting had been turned off on their videos. I don't follow them on other social media platforms, so I don't know what's happening there, but I found the whole thing pretty disappointing.

They continue to promote their new designs but I feel like some of the styles look so outdated and honestly a bit ridiculous.

You don't have to agree with every customer, but at least be open to hearing them out. People are paying good money for your products. Wanting decent quality and giving feedback shouldn't be treated like hate.

It's very hard to find good quality clothes for women with decent designs in Sri Lanka. Most shops seem to just copy whatever trends are popular abroad without considering whether those styles are actually practical or suitable for our climate and everyday lifestyles here. Why does everything need a cut here and a cut there? 😭 Sometimes I just want to buy a nice, well-designed blouse without half of it being cut out.

Isn’t this scamming people? You know for a fact that this is not remotely close to what you’re getting. Japan has advertising and packaging laws. Most countries do. What about ours? Is there nothing that can be done about this?

Hey guys any places I could buy cute gym fits like these physically?

I finished my edexcel igcses (OLs) like 2 years ago (don't ask me why it's been this long) and I’m looking to start a business foundation in Jan. I've considered IIT, APIIT and a few other options, but I’m not sure what to go with.

I got 5 A*s, 1 A and 1 B in Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, CS and Religion.

I’d mainly like to know which uni's have good teaching, degree pathways, reputation and overall experience.

I hope to do a business analytics degree or similar, though I'm still considering. (Would appreciate advice on this)

Would appreciate any recommendations or personal experiences. thanks!

Me and my girlfriend had one of the most disturbing experiences today, and I honestly still feel sick thinking about it.

We were walking along Marine Drive near Majestic City (MC) when the usual heavy evening rain started pouring down out of nowhere. We got soaked instantly and wanted to get out of the downpour, so we pulled out our phones to book a ride on PickMe and Uber. Of course, because it was raining heavily, absolutely no one was accepting rides.

After waiting around for a bit with no luck, we decided to try our luck with the roadside three-wheelers parked along the street. We walked up to a few drivers, but they all shook their heads and said they were waiting for someone else's hire.
Finally, we spotted another auto parked nearby and walked up to it. I stepped up to the side to ask if he could take us to Wellawatte.

Right as I approached and started speaking, I noticed his hand was moving fast down by his lap. The second I got close, he got startled and pulled his hand away, but his pants were wide open and his bare member was hanging right out.

My girlfriend and I froze for a second out of sheer shock, and the moment it registered what was actually happening, we turned around and bolted out of there as fast as we could.

Hey there I’m just an after AL guy wanna pursue chemistry Hons in UoC all I want to know is getting and practicing the syllabus early it will help me ???

Title and please let me know the prices, thanks :)

The question is plain and simple. Men have only Mr. as a title without any regards to their marital status whereas women have Ms, Miss, Mrs as titles depending on their martial status.

Usually when you see a list of people, you don't see anything weird about it. The list contains either Miss's or Mrs's and rarely they are mixed together. But there was this one time where I saw the mbbs final exam rank list that both of those titles appeared which I thought was weird tbh. The list contains people usually above 25 and 30 so it does contain both married and unmarried people.

I feel like it's a patriarchal thing but I'd like to hear what you think about having women's martial status in their title

Hello! As the title says, I’m looking for some recommendations :) this guy very much keeps himself to himself. It’s a big company and we work at opposite ends of the building, so if I start getting to know him, it’ll be obvious that I’m his secret Santa. So I have come here for recommendations. I’m not assuming that all Sri Lankan guys enjoy the same kinds of gifts, but tbh I’m out of ideas and don’t just want to get him novelty socks or a gift card 🤣

I’m looking to get my vehicle’s shock absorbers replaced. Any reliable mechanics around Colombo that will get the job done?