Verbal battle over Trinco oil tank farm

By Saman Indrajith

A tense situation prevailed in the House, yesterday, with the government and Opposition MPs being engaged in a verbal battle over the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm.

A heated argument erupted when Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella raised concerns about the statements made by the Energy Minister on the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm.

MP Kiriella said that the 15 oil tanks had been given to India and others reserved to be jointly developed by the IOC and Sri Lanka. “I was shocked to hear a statement by the Energy Minister that all oil tanks had already been given to India. There are 100 oil tanks of which 15 have been given to IOC.

There are 85 others to be developed jointly by Sri Lankan and the IOC. That did not happen,” MP Kiriella said.

SJB Kegalle District MP Kabir Hashim said that LIOC kept the oil tanks illegally and the government could have reacquired the oil tanks between 2005 and 2015 period.

MP Hashim also demanded to know from Minister Gammanpila whether the government would reacquire the tanks now. “The government is lying. Do not mislead the House. It is an MoU that we are talking about. It was agreed that MoU would go for a fully-fledged agreement after six months but that did not take place. Therefore, the LIOC is holding on to the tanks illegally. In 2005, you made an election pledge to take them over, but did not fulfil. After ten years in 2015, the LIOC was given space and permission to construct a lubricant plant. The tanks could have been taken back. It could be taken over even now. What I am asking is whether you will take it back or not.”

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila challenged the Opposition Members to table the MoU at issue.

Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella: “Eighty five tanks have not been given to India. They have been referred for joint development.”

MP Hashim: “If you are saying there is an agreement. Table it in the House so that people could know. After seeing the agreement we can accept what you say here.

Galle District SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara said that State Minister Susil Premajayanth had in a TV talk show revealed the truth the previous day. The energy minister was lying. Their statements were contradictory.

State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera asked Minister Gammanpila whether there was a clause on a condition of going for another agreement in six months.

Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that the agreement in question was not a permanent one, and it was a lease agreement and would be tabled in Parliament. “There is no point in arguing this matter. I will table the official agreement between India and Sri Lanka on the Trincomalee oil tanks today,” the Minister said.