Harsha defends HSBC CEO’s comment on Sri Lanka’s oil purchase

By Yohan Perera

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva yesterday referred to Daily Mirror report published under the title ‘CPC rejects US dollars 286 per barrel claim, threatens legal action” and alleged that there has been an attempt to manipulate the statement made by the 

HSBC CEO.   

“It is utterly shameful how the JVP/NPP government and its political henchmen running the state-owned petroleum distributor attempted to manipulate the statement by CEO of HSBC that a Sri Lankan buyer paid USD 286 for a barrel of oil. They even threatened to sue HSBC. The man clearly referred to ‘REFINED OIL’ and ‘door to door’ price and never for crude, as accused by the government of Sri Lanka. In fact, the CEO didn’t mean any wrong, only analyzed the fallout of the war. However, our big talking stick waving tough guys wanted to ‘teach the man a lesson’ and ended up with egg on their faces” Dr. De Silva said in 

his X message.   

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has firmly denied claims that Sri Lanka paid $286 per barrel for crude oil, describing the reports as false and misleading, and warning of legal action against those responsible.  

In a statement, the CPC Chairman earlier said the corporation imports crude oil exclusively for the Sapugaskanda refinery and clarified that no shipment has been purchased or contracted at the reported price.  

The CPC noted that the first crude oil shipment to arrive in Sri Lanka following recent instability in the Middle East was expected on April 17.  

Rejecting the $286 figure, the corporation stated that crude oil shipments secured after the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East were priced at approximately $71.99, $111.62, $71.81 and $113.29 per barrel.