News
Govt. settling fuel debts – Minister
By Ifham Nizam
The government has allocated nearly USD 80 million for settling debts, related to fossil fuel purchases, and for further fossil fuel intake, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told journalists yesterday, adding that 10 fuel shipments would arrive here within days.
USD 11 million had been paid to Lanka IOC on 30 June for the procurement of 7,500 MT of diesel, Minister Wijesekera said.
Prepayments had been made for two other companies, namely Indian Coal Energy that would supply 40,000 MT of auto diesel between 08 July and 09 July.A shipment of 40,000MT from Vitol is scheduled to reach the country between 11 and 14 July 11.
Wijesekara said that USD 28 million had been paid for that consignment, while another USD 49 million was slated to be paid on 08 July.Wijesekera also said that they were also expecting two more fuel shipments, containing both petrol and diesel either on 22 or 23 July.
Providing an update on the availability of fuel in the country, he said nearly 12,774 MT of diesel, 1,414 MT of petrol 92 octane, 2,647 MT of petrol 95 octane, 233 MT of super diesel, 500 MT of aviation fuel and 29,000 MT of furnace oil were in stock at present.
The Minister said that they are expecting the following fuel shipments this month:
July 08-09: 40,000 MT of diesel (Ceypetco),
July 11-14: 40,000 MT of diesel (Ceypetco)
July 13-15: 30,000 MT of diesel/petrol (LIOC),
July 22-23: 40,000 MT of diesel (pending approval)
July 22-23: 40,000 MT of petrol (Ceypetco),
July 29-31: 30,000 MT of diesel/petrol (LIOC) and
August 13-15: 30,000 MT of diesel/petrol (LIOC)
Nearly 110,000 MT of diesel, 70,000 MT of petrol and 40,000 MT of diesel (pending approval) will arrive in the country, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, Lanka IOC said it was expecting three shipments of petrol and diesel in Sri Lanka this month and in August. The first shipment is expected between 13 and 15 July. The second shipment is expected to reach between 29 and 31 July, while the third shipment is scheduled to arrive between August 10 and 15.
Each vessel will be carrying 30,000 metric tonnes of fuel, according to Lanka IOC Chairman Manoj Gupta. All these shipments will be arriving from Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for Aug. 31 the pre-trial conference in the money laundering case filed by the Attorney General against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, and his great-aunt Daisy Forrest.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.
State Counsel Oswald Perera requested court to fix a date for the pre-trial conference and informed the judge that the prosecution would announce its position regarding the second accused, Daisy Forrest, at the conference. He also said the prosecution intended to notify court of amendments to the indictment.
After considering the submissions, Judge Singappuli ordered that the pre-trial conference be held on Aug. 31.
The Attorney General has indicted Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that they deposited nearly Rs. 59 million in bank accounts knowing, or having reason to believe, that the funds had been unlawfully acquired.
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