The Petroleum Resources Ministry, in a statement issued today, notified all petroleum distributors to refrain from issuing petrol to plastic can and bottles.

The move comes as the fuel crisis rages on in country with queues several kilometers long as vehicles owners attempt to stock up on petrol.

The situation was exacerbated by those who parked their vehicles in the queue and but went up front to collect fuel into a bottle or plastic can causing a bottleneck in front.

The fuel crisis occurred when a tanker carrying fuel was rejected by the Petroleum Resources Ministry for not meeting standards on October 17 and sent away.

The next tanker is due in Sri Lanka tomorrow (Wednesday, November 8), the Petroleum Resources Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said yesterday.