FR filed challenging Cabinet decision on Trinco Oil Tank Farm agreement

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Fundamental Rights application was filed with the Supreme Court on Friday (7) challenging the decision taken by the Cabinet to reach an agreement with an Indian Company for the development of the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm.

The application was filed by Venerable Wakamulle Uditha Thero, via Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala.

47 people including the Attorney General, the President's Secretary, Finance Minister, Defence Secretary, Energy Minister, and the Auditor General have been named as respondents.

The agreements to develop Trinco Oil Tank Farm were signed on Thursday (6), said Energy Ministry Udaya Gammanpila.

The Office of the Minister of Energy in a statement late Thursday (6) said that a majority of the tanks at the Trinco Oil Tank Farm which were under Lanka IOC will now be under the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as a development project.

The statement noted that the agreement signed in 2003 with thus be terminated and the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm will be leased for a period of 50 years to the following three entities.

1. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation – 24 tanks

2. Trinco Petroleum Terminal – 61 tanks

3. Lanka IOC – 14 tanks

The statement said that 85 of the 99 tanks will be under the control of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.