Categories: Headlines

Scam causes Rs. 10 m loss at CPSTL, Arjuna to probe

An alleged scam has caused a loss of Rs. 10 million at the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal (CPSTL) on the day fuel prices were hiked, prompting Minister Arjuna Ranatunga to vow stern action after a probe.

The Government decided to increase the fuel price on 10 May at midnight, and was declared in the morning of the same day. In such a situation, same-day orders are to be cancelled temporarily. However, an initial investigation has revealed that 52 fuel bowsers from the Kolonnawa terminal and 22 fuel bowsers from the Muthurajawela terminal were released following the same-day orders.

Owing to this smuggling incident, the Kolonnawa terminal lost Rs. 6,580,200 and the Muthurajawela terminal lost Rs. 2,468,400. The investigation disclosed that some regional fuel distribution centres also released a stock of fuel following same-day orders.

“The smuggling was done following the wrong procedure. Some filling stations received a stock of fuel within the same day, which was not received for weeks. There are customers who had paid for fuel the day before the price hike, but had not received stocks, and customers who had paid and received stocks within hours,” Minister Ranatunga said, yesterday.

“We are processing the investigation to identify the offenders. We will hand over further investigations to the FCID. The smuggling has been occurring for years. I will take severe actions to stop wrongdoings. Some ministers are also trying to push us when we are trying to catch thieves,” he added.

Lankanewspapers

Recent Posts

LNP – Beer truck overturns causing heavy traffic on Colombo-Ratnapura road

A container truck transporting beer bottles has met with an accident on the Colombo-Ratnapura main…

12 hours ago

LNP – Around 1,000 liquor bottles found in Deshabsndu’s residence: Minister

Some 795 foreign liquor bottles and 214 wine bottles were found at IGP Deshabandu Thennekoon's…

14 hours ago

LNP – NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams return to Earth after 9 months stuck in space

Stuck in space no more, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Earth…

19 hours ago

LNP – Deshabandu Tennakoon surrenders to Matara court

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has surrendered to the Matara Magistrate's Court…

19 hours ago

LNP – Petition against levying withholding tax on Sri Lanka’s national team cricketers

Sri Lanka’s ODI captain Charith Asalanka and Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva have filed a…

22 hours ago

LNP – Sri Lanka eyes international alliances to boost tourism industry growth

As the world gradually recovers from the pandemic’s impact, Sri Lanka is positioning itself as…

22 hours ago