Sri Lanka moves from Oman to Switzerland for cooking gas supply

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Raising questions on the award of gas supply tender to a new company based in Switzerland, opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake yesterday revealed that the new move could create a gas shortage within three months.   

“It was a company owned by the government in Oman which was engaged in supplying gas to Sri Lanka. However, we have been informed that fresh tenders have been called and a new contract has been awarded to a company based in Switzerland which has promised to supply two containers at a time. However, Sri Lanka needed one container every four days. This situation could create a shortage of gas within three months as the new company is not expected to supply frequently like the earlier supplier based in Oman,” MP Dassanayake told Parliament.   

 “Also the new supplier has refused to allow the Sri Lankan authorities to check the stocks of gas once it reaches Sri Lanka,” he added.   

“The government should be careful in awarding supply contracts as the previous government led by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fell because of wrong decisions,” he also said.   

Minister Vijitha Herath who responded later confirmed that a tender for the supply of gas has been awarded to a Swiss company following the usual procedures. However, the Minister assured that there will be no shortage of gas as the new supplier is expected to deliver the first stock by January 5, 2026. “Opposition MPs should refrain from creating panic among the people,” he said.