The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) today (12 December) addressed reports about the return of an oil tanker that had arrived in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Government Information Department, CPC Chairman Janaka Rajakaruna clarified that the vessel in question was not imported by the CPC and therefore has no impact on the country’s fuel supply.

“It was not an oil tanker diverted by the CPC,” Rajakaruna explained. “The United Petroleum Company brought an oil tanker on the 2nd carrying 15,000 metric tons of petrol and 15,000 metric tons of diesel. However, the tanker was taken back without unloading. This was due to an internal issue with the company and not related to the CPC. It has no effect on the country because the CPC has sufficient fuel stocks. We have already placed orders for fuel until April next year.”

Rajakaruna also noted that since private companies were authorized to trade oil in Sri Lanka, they independently handle their shipments, as was the case with this tanker.