Ranawaka demands MR to reveal ‘secret deal’ with IOC

Megapolis and Western Province Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday challenged former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to reveal the “secret deal” with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in 2013 to sell the Trinco oil tanks to India.

Referring to an article published on 25 May 2013 in The Hindu newspaper, Ranawaka said according to the story it is evident that Rajapaksa had a some sort of deal with IOC to hand over  ownership of the Trinco oil tanks since he has tried to mislead people claiming that the present Government wanted to sell them. 

Ranawaka said some day in May 2013, then Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara had met the Indian Petroleum Secretary to discuss Rajapaksa’s plan to offer the Trinco oil tank plant to IOC.  

He also claimed that Dr. Jayasundara had delivered special conditions to IOC if it was in the interest to take over the Trinco tanks during the discussion. 

The Hindu newspaper on 25 May 2013 said that IOC and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) were set to form a joint venture for taking up various initiatives in the oil and gas sector, including the supply of LNG to Sri Lanka by Petronet LNG Limited (PLL) to feed power plants in that country.

It further said the decision to form the joint venture was taken following a meeting between Petroleum Secretary Vivek Rae and Dr. Jayasundara. 

According to the article, the Sri Lankan Government had asked IOC to formalise a proposal within May 2013 and submit the same to CPC to continue further discussions. 

Pinning the blame on Rajapaksa for attempting to sell the Trinco oil tanks to IOC, Ranawaka said Rajapaksa must reveal the “hidden conditions” he proposed to IOC in 2013 to sell the oil tanks without passing the ball to the current Government. (CG)