CPC shortchanged on delivery of fuel to the tune of Rs 770 mn but none held to account

By Shiran Ranasinghe

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has found that two ships carrying fuel brought in 27,786 barrels less fuel than what the CPC had paid for.

The CPC has incurred a loss of Rs 770 million due to the shortfall.

However, the CPC could not recover the losses from the supplier, a senior official said.

“The CPC is threatening legal action. But we have already paid for everything,” he said.

On 20 November 2022, a ship carrying 699,000 barrels arrived in Sri Lanka. However, when the cargo was unloaded, 27 days later, the CPC found that there was a shortfall of 13,235 barrels.

The CPC also found 12,551 barrels were missing in a ship which was supposed to carry 724,008 barrels.

CPC officials say that Sri Lanka made fuel purchases in an ad hoc manner, without any oversight.