Despite recent reports of discord between Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) officials in the Trincomalee China Harbour, Petroleum Resources Development Chandima Weerakkody yesterday insisted that the issue was just a simple misunderstanding.
CPC Deputy Manager (Operations) Menaka Jeevasiri complained that he had been barred by LIOC authorities from conducting repairs on 16 tanks in the harbour’s oil tank farm. He subsequently notified the police.
Weerakkody, however, claimed that the CPC officials did not obtain prior permission to carry out their work from the LIOC.
“Based on the Cabinet decision and agreements with the LIOC, proper authorisation must be obtained by CPC officials before work can be done in the harbour,” he said.
“There is no issue here. The message was not properly communicated to the LIOC security that work would be done by CPC officials. It was nothing but a slight mix-up,” he added.
The minister also said that LIOC and CPC representatives are cooperating with each other to make sure similar problems do not arise in the future.