CPC fuel for LTTE ruled out

by Shanika Sriyananda

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said yesterday that there was no possibility of the LTTE getting fuel from the CPC for their air attacks on the Katunayake Air Force Base and Palaly army base.

CPC Acting Chairman and Managing Director Methsiri Wijegoonawardene told the 'Sunday Observer' that over 50 percent of the oil at the Katunayake tank farm at the Katunayake International Airport is issued to SriLankan Airlines (SLAL).

"An Operational Manager is attached to the oil farm and he issues reports and monitors the system daily", he said. The CPC which runs its tank farm with a stock of Jet A 1 oil at Katunayake, stocks fuel for four to five days and monitors the stocks, which issue oil to SLAL and other international airlines daily.

According to Wijegoonawardene, the oil from Kolonnawa is despatched to Katunayake either by bowsers or by rail tanks under CPC's strict supervision. "The transportation is handled by the CPC officials and the records of the time of despatch and the time of arrivals are monitored", he said.

Wijegoonawardene said that the few domestic airlines registered under the CPC are issued fuel, after checking their profiles.

However, according to informed sources the government will investigate whether the LTTE got the fuel needed for its light aircraft from the domestic airlines which get fuel from the CPC.

Wijegoonawardene refuting the claim said that the possibility of the LTTE getting fuel from the CPC was very remote and was difficult under its strict monitoring system.