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.