Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has saved USD 300 million in foreign exchange for the year 2020, CPC Chairman Sumith Wijesinghe told the Parliament Committee on Public Enterprisers (COPE) recently. He stated that the government was able to take advantage of this due to the fall in the price of a barrel of crude oil last year and several other reasons.

The Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation stated this in response to a question raised by Parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar on the profit made by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation during the last year due to the fall in crude oil prices.

The Committee chaired by Prof. Charitha Herath met in Parliament on Tuesday (19 January 2021) to discuss the Special Audit Report on the storage and distribution of petroleum.

Discussions were also held regarding the pipeline carrying oil from the port premises to Kolonnawa storage and steps that are being taken to repair it, officials said. CPC officials further stated that measures have been taken to provide a new house for each existing house that are damaged due to the pipeline.

The COPE also drew attention to the possibility of using the existing oil tanks in the Trincomalee and Hambantota areas for the needs of the CPC. Officials of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation said that steps have been taken to develop Muthurajawela and Kolonnawa terminals to improve the storage capacity of fuel. The COPE Chairman recommended CPC officials to submit a feasibility report to the COPE on the capabilities of these developments. 

The Committee also drew attention to the commencement of oil transport by train and it was revealed that the 30% of fuel is already being transported by train and it will be increased to 42% soon. COPE commended this move.

Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Mahinda Amaraweera, State Minister Indika Anuruddha, MPs Patali Champika Ranawaka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Nalin Bandara, Eran Wickramaratne, Premnath C. Dolawatta, S.M. Marikkar, S. Rasamanikkam and Isuru Dodangoda were present at this meeting. MP Isuru Dodangoda participated as an observer.