No plans to handover Lanka fuel imports to LIOC: Minister
30 April 2012 6:54 PM GMT
Sri Lanka Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha has dismissed opposition party JVP's claim that Lanka IOC (LIOC), a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation, was being entrusted with importation and distribution of petroleum products in the island nation, as 'baseless'.
'I have seen baseless, politically motivated stories that our refinery is to be handed over to the LIOC. There are no plans to privatise the [Ceylon Petroleum Corporation]. We have not taken any such policy decision. No cabinet papers,' Premajayantha said while addressing CPC workers yesterday.
The Minister also said the JVP's claims the LIOC was to be given the rights to handle Sri Lanka's fuel importation and redistribution was 'equally baseless'.
'No other entity than the CPC would handle these,' he stated.
Citing CPC's unhealthy financial status, opposition JVP had said the government was planning to hand over the importation and redistribution of all petroleum products to LIOC.
While LIOC, the Sri Lankan arm of the IOC, and CPC both import refined petroleum products, only CPC imports crude oil.
'It was us who saved the CPC from privatisation', the minister said.
'I have seen baseless, politically motivated stories that our refinery is to be handed over to the LIOC. There are no plans to privatise the [Ceylon Petroleum Corporation]. We have not taken any such policy decision. No cabinet papers,' Premajayantha said while addressing CPC workers yesterday.
The Minister also said the JVP's claims the LIOC was to be given the rights to handle Sri Lanka's fuel importation and redistribution was 'equally baseless'.
'No other entity than the CPC would handle these,' he stated.
Citing CPC's unhealthy financial status, opposition JVP had said the government was planning to hand over the importation and redistribution of all petroleum products to LIOC.
While LIOC, the Sri Lankan arm of the IOC, and CPC both import refined petroleum products, only CPC imports crude oil.
'It was us who saved the CPC from privatisation', the minister said.
Next Story
