The Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya branch at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) alleged that the standard procedures were not followed when resuming operations at the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery, which was closed for 17 days.

The refinery was closed because of the lack of crude oil.

JSS Secretary Ananda Paltiha told Daily Mirror Online said laid down procedures were not followed when resuming operations at the refinery was closed from May16 to 29.

“Usually there is a cleaning process that needs to be carried out. This was not done and resulted in substandard fuel being released to the market,” Mr. Palitha alleged.

He said the fuel imported by the Ministry was not compatible with the refining process at the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery because equipment which is more than ten years old.

Mr. Palitha warned that despite the 12,000 metric tonnes of crude oil in stock including what arrived today, if the next shipment due on June 6 does not arrive on time, there could be a severe shortage of fuel in the market. He said the CPC had also lost billions of rupees because the SOR was incapable of working to its full capacity. (Chaturanga Pradeep-DM Online)