News

Who prevents Litro from using available equipment?

Published

6 years ago

2020/09/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Asantha responds to Udaya’s accusations

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman Asantha de Mel yesterday (27) said that Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila should make a genuine effort to enter the lucrative LPG (liquid petroleum gas) market.

Minister Gammanpila, who is also an attorney-at-law, could find out who had prevented state owned Litro (formerly Shell) to undertake the project without further delay, De Mel said. “Consumers will benefit if the state entered the market. There cannot be any justification in depriving CPC /Litro opportunity to use available equipment.

The former national cricketer said so in response to The Island query whether he accepted responsibility for losses suffered in 2008 to the tune of Rs 37 mn when his controversial bid to enter the LPG market went awry.

The Island raised the issue with de Mel in the wake of Energy Minister Gammanpila calling for a report on what he called squandering of public funds on equipment et al which were never used. The former Chairman said that the incumbent minister couldn’t be unaware of what was going on at the time.

Mel said: “When Laugfs sought to extend the exclusive contract it had with the CPC to procure the entire stock of LPG gas output at the Sapugaskanda refinery, I on behalf of the CPC took up the position; the buyer should pay the real market price. They disagreed. When they declined to work out an agreement fair by both parties, I took the initiative to procure equipment necessary to begin bottling gas. They moved the Supreme Court against me over cases of hedging bringing my tenure as CPC Chairman to an end.”

The former CPC Chairman said that legal action prevented them from using the LPG produced at their own facility. Contrary to claims and unsubstantiated allegations, De Mel emphasized that the CPC undertook the project with the cabinet approval. The then Petroleum Minister A.H.M. Fowzie submitted a cabinet paper in that regard. Minister Gammanpila could easily verify it with the Cabinet office, De Mel said, adding that he wouldn’t even bother to respond to the Energy Minister if The Island had not raised the issue with him.

An irate De Mel said that for 12 years no one bothered to use the available bottling facility at Sapugaskanda. Now that the Minister Gammanpila had vowed to uncover the truth, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader should first of all inquire into the circumstances under which the Laughs had entered into an exclusive agreement with the CPC to procure the entire LPG stock produced at Sapugaskanda at terms detrimental to the government. How could they expect the agreement to continue without any alterations, De Mel asked, expressing concern the incumbent government wouldn’t take tangible measures in that regard.

According to him, Laugfs moved court when the CPC was planning to call for tenders to procure gas cylinders.

Responding to another query, he said the Energy Ministry should reveal the amount of LPG produced at Sapugaskanda refinery that was made available to Litro and Laugfs, the per percentages and how the ministry intended to utilize the equipment acquired in 2008.

In April 2011, the media reported the government directing that CPC LPG output be shared 50 per cent each between Litro and Laugfs after the CPC unilaterally decided to split it 70 % to 30% in favour of Litro. The CPC moved prompted Laugfs to complain to the government.

The former CPC Chairman emphasized that prevention of state from competing with the private sector couldn’t be justified under any circumstances.

Accusations over hedging agreements signed by de Mel with two banks, in respect of buying fuel in late Nov 2008 led to his suspension by the Supreme Court. The SC also recommended that Minister Fowzie be replaced. Of the two petitions against De Mel, one was filed by the chairman of Laugfs gas company W.K.H. Wegapitiya, another petition by Kiniyawala Palitha thera, the then UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake MP and Ravi Jayawardena.

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Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

35 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

39 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Maldives and Sri Lanka exchange seven MOUs

Published

46 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed across several sectors between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, were formally exchanged this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives.

Marking a new chapter in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations, the MoUs cover cooperation in the fields of health, sports, tourism, education and defence.

Accordingly:

1. MoU on Tourism Cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

2. MoU on Archiving Cooperation between the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

3. MoU on Training and Professional Development of Teachers and School Leaders between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development of the Maldives and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

4. MoU on Sports and Youth Development Cooperation between the Republic of Maldives and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

5. MoU on Defence Cooperation between the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Maldives and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).

6. MoU between the Ministry of Defence and National Service of the Maldives and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara.

7. MoU on Academic Cooperation between the University of Colombo of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake.

The state visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to further strengthen economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries, while enhancing their multifaceted partnership.

Cabinet Ministers, government officials and members of the Maldivian delegation, representing both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, were present at the occasion.

[President’s Media Division]