News

Energy Minister claims successful conclusion of discussions with Indians

Published

4 years ago

2022/01/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Trinco Bunkering now given to IOC – FSP

Trinco oil tank farm

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said that discussions with India on regaining the control of the Trincomalee oil tank farm had concluded successfully and that 14 oil tanks in the Trincomalee oil tank farm would be leased to the LIOC for another 50 years. Gammanpila added that LIOC had been controlling the tank farm since 2003.

Twenty four oil tanks would be given to CPC and the remaining 61 managed by Trinco Petroleum Terminals Ltd., a joint venture between LIOC and CPC, Gammanpila said.

“We have regained control of the Trinco oil tank farm. This is a historic victory. Trinco Petroleum Terminals Ltd. will be run by us. COPE and Parliament has control over it,” he said.

However, the Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), Pubudu Jayagoda said that the government had agreed to sell the bunkering operations at Trincomalee to IOC. The government was to sign two agreements with India, he said.

“One is the agreement to hand over to India 14 oil tanks that the IOC is using, the pipelines used to carry fuel and the bunkering operation. IOC will get these infrastructure for 50 years, and the government will lose a lot of foreign revenue as it loses the bunkering operation,” he said.

According to Jayagoda, the second agreement will be on the establishment of Trinco Petroleum Terminals Ltd., a joint venture between LIOC and CPC. Commenting on Minister Gammanpila’s claim that most of the Directors of the Company would be appointed by CPC and that 51% of shares would be owned by the CPC, Jayagoda said that the agreement was similar to the one signed with New Fortress Energy.

“We only sold 40% of the Kerawalapitiya Power Plant shares to New Fortress Energy, but they still control the entire operational aspect of the power plant. Likewise, although IOC only owns 49% of Trinco Petroleum Terminals, they are in charge of the operations. We have given them the best tanks, situated at the lower levels of the tank farm, and the pipelines that transports oil. So they are in control of the tank farm,” he said.

The FSP Education Secretary also asked whether Minister Gammanpila would reveal the specifics of the 24 tanks that have been earmarked for CPC. There were about 20 tanks that couldn’t be used and it was likely that those tanks will be given back to the CPC, he said.

“Minister Gammanpila says that these agreements are a great victory because the Sri Lankan flag will be displayed in the tank farm. This is akin to selling your house because you have no money, and claim that the new owners have agreed to display the portrait of your grandmother in the living room. We have agreed to sign a disastrous agreement with India because of our forex crisis and soon they will have a land at a strategic location in the country,” he said.

Jayagoda also alleged that the Minister had also made a number of false statements about the previous agreements on the tank farm. Despite the Minister’s claims, there was no formal agreement to hand over 14 tanks to India in 2003, he said. An MoU was signed and but a formal agreement was never executed.

“So, IOC was holding these tanks illegally. However, when this agreement is signed it will formally have these tanks. The Minister also claims that the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka accord earmarked these tanks for Indian use. However, the agreement only states that if we develop these tanks with a foreign partner that partner will have to be India. So Gammanpila is bending facts,” he said.

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kurunegala and Ratnapura

Published

34 mins ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued Landslide Early Warnings to the Districts of Kurunegala and Ratnapura effective from 16:00 hrs on 23.04.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 24.04.2026

Accordingly,

Level 1 landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Rideegama in the Kurunegala district and Kuruwita, Kalawana, Ratnapura, Nivithigala, Pelmadulla and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district.

Latest News

Advisory for Severe Lightning issued for the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Ampara and Batticaloa districts

Published

2 hours ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
Issued at 12.00 noon 23 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 23 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

News

Compensation payments and reconstruction activities related to the Ditwah relief measures must be expedited with special attention at the district level – PM

Published

12 hours ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized that compensation payments and reconstruction activities related to the Ditwah relief measures must be expedited with special attention at the district level. She further stated that all necessary allocations have already been made to Provincial Councils and instructed that the progress of disaster damage assessments and reconstruction efforts be closely monitored at the provincial level.

The Prime Minister made these remarks at a discussion held on Tuesday (21) at Temple Trees under her patronage, aimed at informing Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees and public representatives from disaster-affected districts, in order to accelerate the implementation of the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme. The discussion focused on expediting disaster relief and compensation payments, as well as the swift restoration of infrastructure damaged by the disaster.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Rs. 500 billion has been allocated for damages caused by the Ditwah cyclone, and that all relevant development activities must be completed before the end of 2026. The Prime Minister also instructed officials to pay special attention to resolving issues at the local level that are causing delays in compensation payments.

Senior Additional Secretary to the President, G.M.R.D. Aponsu, stated that the estimated cost for reconstruction following the Ditwah cyclone is approximately USD 3.4 billion. Accordingly, funds have been allocated for compensation across several sectors including housing and social infrastructure, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, industry and livelihoods, and irrigation. He further noted that 99% of the Rs. 25,000 allowance has already been disbursed, while 95% of the Rs. 50,000 resettlement allowance has been paid. Compensation for fully and partially damaged houses is still ongoing, and 99% of temporary relief centres have been closed.

Additionally, attention was drawn to several other measures, including providing Rs. 25,000 to affected schoolchildren, paying Rs. 1 million as compensation for each deceased individual, compensation for children who lost one or both parents, support for persons with disabilities affected by the disaster, compensation for agricultural losses, and expediting resettlement of displaced families. Measures such as allocating land for new housing construction and accelerating the issuance of reports from the National Building Research Organization were also discussed.

Focus was also placed on the reconstruction of affected schools, hospitals, and daycare centres, improving the accuracy and speed of data collection at the local level, and accelerating infrastructure development.

The event was attended by Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyarathna, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dr. Chandana Abayarathna, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperatives R.M. Jayawardena, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Madhura Senevirathna, Members of Parliament, Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees, Chief of Staff to the President and Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Additional Secretary to the President Jayantha Bandara; and officials of the Prime Minister’s Office.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]