Indian High Commission told Sri Lankan Energy Minister’s statement wrong, oil tank deal will continue

The Indian High Commission has rejected the Sri Lankan Energy Minister’s statement that the bilateral agreement to lease oil tanks in Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) to the Indian Oil Corporation has been terminated. These oil tanks belong to the era of World War II. In a statement, the High Commission said, “There is no truth in some media reports that the agreement between India and Sri Lanka to jointly develop and run an ‘Upper Tank Farm’ at Trincomalee has been terminated.”

Sri Lankan Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila announced on Wednesday that Sri Lanka would withdraw 99 World War II oil storage tanks leased to the IOC (Indian Oil Corporation) at East Port District Trincomalee. He had said that talks in this context with Indian High Commission took place on Sunday.

The High Commission of India said that the statement of the minister given in the media report on 17 February 2021 program was not given properly. The minister himself has cleared things in this matter on Thursday. The minister told reporters that the tanks will be operated jointly by the Sri Lankan government unit with the Indian partner.