Hon. Kumara Jayakody
2026-03-03
Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody addressed questions about the Trincomalee oil storage tanks and the Norochcholai power plant. He stated that refurbishment of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation's 24 tanks is underway — with two completed and two in progress — and that the pipeline system is also being fully repaired, asserting that storage operations will only commence once this work is finished. He attributed the reduction in the number of tanks to the previous government's sale of the remaining tanks to India, and indicated that any environmental concerns at Norochcholai would be addressed by the relevant authorities in due course.
Hon. Speaker, the Trincomalee tanks cannot be used as they are; they must be refurbished. We have commenced that work. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has 24 tanks. It was your Government that sold the rest to India. Of the 24, refurbishment of four has commenced; two have been completed and the other two are in progress. The pipeline system is being fully repaired. We will store only after completing that work; do not speak like children. Regarding any environmental issue at Norochcholai, the competent authorities will inform us of the situation, and we, as a responsible Government, will take the necessary steps.