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FR petition challenges Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm deal with Indians

A fundamental rights petition challenging the agreement signed between Sri Lanka and India to develop the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm was filed yesterday in the Supreme Court by a civil society activist.
Ven. Wakulle Uditha Thera of the Jathika Bhikku Peramuna filed the fundamental rights violation petition through Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala. The petitioner has named 47 persons,including the Attorney General, Secretary to the President, Minister of Finance, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Minister of Energy, and the Auditor General as respondents.
Sri Lanka and India reached the agreement on 06 January. Among the signatories to the agreement are Sri Lankan Treasury Secretary, the
Commissioner-General of Lands, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Lanka IOC and the subsidiary company Trinco Petroleum Terminal Pvt. Ltd.
On Monday, the Cabinet approved the agreement presented by the Minister of Power Udaya Gammanpila.
According to the agreement, 61 tanks will be jointly developed by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Lanka IOC through Trinco Petroleum Terminal Pvt. Ltd.
Lanka IOC is a subsidiary of the Indian Oil Corporation, which is under the Indian Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The government of Sri Lanka has said that CPC will own 51% of the shares of the joint venture and Lanka IOC holds the balance.
The Cabinet also decided lease 14 oil tanks of the Lower Oil Tank Complex to LIOC for 50 years. 24 oil tanks will be reserved for the CPC.
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Acting Ministers assigned to oversee Ministries under the President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe embarked on an official visit to Germany early this morning (27). During his absence, the responsibilities of the ministries under his purview have been temporarily entrusted to the respective state ministers.
As part of this arrangement, State Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon will serve as the Acting Minister of Defence, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe as the Acting Minister of Finance, State Minister Kanaka Herath as the Acting Minister of Technology, State Minister Anupa Pasqual as the Acting Minister for Women, Children Affairs and Social Empowerment and State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya as the Acting Minister for Investment Promotion.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe left for Germany to deliver the opening remarks at the Leaders Dialogue session during the ‘Berlin Global Dialogue’ on September 28-29. Subsequently, he will join a bilateral session with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the officials of the Federal Republic of Germany.
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Campaign to attract 1.5 million tourists to Sri Lanka in 2023

Minister of State for Tourism Mrs. Diana Gamage at a press conference themed ‘Collective path to a stable country’ at the Presidential Media Centre today (27) announced plans to launch promotional campaigns aimed at attracting 1.5 million foreign tourists to Sri Lanka by the year’s end. She emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of tourists and mentioned initiatives such as establishing taxi associations to enhance the visitor experience.
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Train services on coastal line delayed

The Railway Department has announced that train services on the coastal line will be delayed due a derailment between Kollupitiya and Colombo Fort this morning (27).
It also said that trains bound to Colombo will be given priority and requested South bound passengers to make use of alternate modes of transportation until the situation is rectified.
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