Trade Unions claim there is a risk of the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery being shut down again.
Speaking during a media briefing today, trade unionist Ananda Palitha said this was confirmed by the statements made by the Minister of Energy.
Palitha said the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery will be closed in the future due to the government’s failure to obtain loans through various channels to purchase crude oil.
He said the Energy Minister claimed they will obtain USD 3.6 billion from the Kingdom of Oman by providing a LNG deposit in the Mannar basin to purchase oil for a period of one year.
Ananda Palitha noted that the government will not receive the facility anymore.
He said the Minister attempted to obtain USD 2.5 billion in loans although the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for USD 1 billion to pay off the debts of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
Palitha said the Minister acted as if the funds were in hand.
The trade unionist said the subject Minister also made claims that USD 500 million will be received from India to purchase fuel adding however the Minister of Finance had made arrangements to only purchase fuel from India.
He said the Oil Refinery will have to be closed if the country does not receive the said USD 500 million loan.
Ananda Palitha claimed that no new shipment of oil had arrived in the country in recent days while the Minister was seeking to obtain loans.
