Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka says the economic woes in the country is gradually turning into an energy crisis.
Speaking in Parliament today during the adjournment debate on several Committee on Public Enterprises reports, MP Ranawaka said the government must pay serious attention to the issue as Sri Lanka will have to face a crisis similar to that of Lebanon by January in the face of the growing energy crisis in the country.
The Parliamentarian said five consecutive tenders were called for the importation of crude oil by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, to which no bids were received adding this will lead to the closure of the refinery.
He said various individuals including the Minister of Energy claimed that a new refinery will be built increasing the capacity adding however the current refinery will run out of crude oil by November.
MP Ranawaka said the closure of the refinery will lead to the loss of 300MW of electricity from power plants, which will result in power cuts.
The Parliamentarian charged the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka of attempting to portray the situation to one similar to that of “Jack and the beanstalk”.
