Indian restricted zone in Trincomalee
Indian company said to have taken on lease 84 oil tanks from the oil tank farm at China Bay in Trincomalee has made the oil tank farm a restricted area without allowing any official of the Sri Lanka government to enter the area says All Ceylon Petroleum General Employees’ Union.
The President of Lanka Petroleum General Employees’ Union Ashoka Ranwala says the lease agreement that was to be signed within 6 months of the agreement reached in 2003 was not implemented and as such the Indian company has no right to use any of the oil tanks in the farm.
He said there are 16 more tanks in the farm and the government has approved a cabinet paper to use the tanks. The officials of All Ceylon Petroleum Corporation who had arrived at the oil farm to carry out their duties according to this cabinet paper have not been allowed to enter the complex by officials of the Indian company said Mr. Ranwala.
The officials of the Indian company have said no one would be allowed into the complex without permission from Indian government said Mr. Ranwala adding that it is a very serious situation.
All Ceylon Petroleum General Employees’ Union has asked the government to take over all oil tanks that are being illegally used by the Indian company and if they want to use them to follow a correct procedure to lease them out.
