News
CPC veteran: Frequent shutdowns will ruin precious oil refinery
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery should not be shut down and restarted from time to time, former Senior Deputy General Manager and Acting Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Cyril Suduwella told the media yesterday.
He said that such interruptions might damage the operating systems of the oil refinery.
The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery has the capacity to process 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day and the plant should operate continuously for two years, Suduwella said.
“After two years, we can close it down for a few days for maintenance. That is how the refinery has functioned for 40 years (This was commissioned in the 1960s). If shut it down from time to time, it may develop defects, and repairs will be extremely expensive.”
Suduwella said refining crude oil in Sri Lanka was the most economical way for the country because by-products of refining are also vital for many industries. Apart from diesel and petrol, products such as kerosene, burnt oil, jet fuel and furnace oil are produced during the refining process, he said.
“Without these by-products, many industries will go into crisis. When the refinery was established, the government made colossal profits. Refineries are a lucrative business. We must expand the plant so that we can refine 100,000 to 150,000 barrels of crude oil daily. The plant also severs as a training centre.
Latest News
Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April
In keeping with the proposal by the President in his 2025 budget, for the provision of a package essential goods at a concessionary price during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival season, it has been planned to provide a food package containing essential food items valued at Rs. 5000/- for only Rs. 2,500/-.
It is expected to select appropriate beneficiaries from among the 812,753 candidates who have submitted new applications for Aswesuma benefits.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development jointly with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to take necessary steps to provide the food package to the beneficiaries through the Lanka Sathosa outlet network and COOPFED outlets from 01.04.2025 to 13.04.2025
The Cabinet of Ministers have decided as follows considering the resolutions submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development along with the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments on payment of salaries according to the revised salary scales with effect from 01.04.2025 based on the resolution furnished by the President for revising the salaries of government service by the budget 2025;
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments to issue circular instructions to the the secretaries of all the Ministries, Local Government Secretaries and Heads of Departments in regard to salary revisions of the government service.
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to issue circular instructions for state corporations, statutory boards and fully government owned companies and other institutions.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted to amend the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 for remedying the shortcomings related to the transparency according to the international standards for prevention of money laundering, financing terrorism and other illegal activities.
Accordingly, the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has been revised as per instructions provided by the Attorney General subject to the special decision of the Supreme Court No. SC/SD/92/2024 and clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the final draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Safety and Cooperative Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April
Salary revision of the Government Service – 2025
Amendment of the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 to be Gazetted
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