Trace missing ship before importing more oil from Singapore - Tissa

The UNP said yesterday that before the Petroleum Industries Ministry imported more oil from Singapore, it should find the missing ship that was carrying fuel to Sri Lanka.The Petroleum Industries Minister, Anura Priyadharashana Yapa, wanted to obtain more fuel from PV Oil Singapore, against which trade unions had levelled several allegations. But, he should first launch a high level probe to ascertain the whereabouts of the ship that was bound for the Colombo port, General Secretary of the UNP,
Tissa Attanayake, MP told a news conference in Colombo.

However, Yapa will not be able to bust the oil import racket which was being masterminded by some powerful persons, he predicted while alleging that the missing ship would secretly soon arrive at some point close to the Sri Lankan coast, where the racketeers would be present to finalise their deals and commissions.

A responsible government, the MP noted would maintain at least three months of fuel stocks, but the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) waited until the tanks ran dry and then ordered emergency supplies from dubious dealers who have been accused of supplying contaminated petrol and diesel.

Lop sided agreements had been entered into with Singapore firms, which had resulted in the CPC’s billion rupee losses mounting further, he observed.

Attanayake said that those who had been accused of resorting to corrupt practices at the CPC had gone scot free, while the same old suppliers had been retained despite the infamous bad petrol episode.

Statements to the effect that a particular company was good will not help the country or the consumer. Strict guidelines and tender procedures should be laid down and the practice of last minute orders being placed, which left the door open for corrupt practices, should be done away with, he said.