Tensions in Parliament over the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm

COLOMBO (News 1st); Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila says that he will table the official agreement between India and Sri Lanka on the Trincomalee oil tanks will be tabled in Parliament today (06). A tense situation arose in Parliament when the Chief Opposition Whip, Lakshman Kiriella raised concerns about the statements made by the Energy Minister on the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm today (06). During the debate, MP Lakshman Kiriella said that the 15 oil tanks have been given to India while the rest were reserved to be jointly developed by the IOC and Sri Lanka, while MP Kabir Hashim said that LIOC kept the oil tanks illegally, while the Government could have reacquired the oil tanks between the 2005 - 2015 period. MP Hashim also directed a question at Minister Gammanpila, asking him whether the Government would reacquire the relevant tanks now. Meanwhile, Minister Udaya Gammanpila challenged the Opposition Members to table the relevant MoU being referenced by them while MP Manusha Nanayakkara alleged that State Minister Susil Premajayanth attended a TV program yesterday and revealed the truth. Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that the agreement in question is not a permanent one, but is a lease agreement and will be tabled in Parliament by him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjE_-VPiAJk