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.
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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