Sri Lankan Energy Minister, Udaya Gammanpila, has denied allegations that a cabinet paper was submitted to lease the Trincomalee Port, Oil Tank Complex and 33,000 acres surrounding it to the United States.
The statement was reportedly made in response to allegations made by JVP politician Wasantha Samarasinghe and convener of the Voice Against Corruption. Gammanpila claimed that the allegations made were a series of lies.
“His statement is a blatant lie. I did not submit such a cabinet paper. I challenge him to show me a copy of the cabinet paper,” Gammanpila stated.
In his rejection, Gammanpila further noted that the JVP were allies of the United National Party (UNP) and in 2003, the UNP government leased the oil tank complex to India for 35 years. He further states that these oil tanks cannot be leased to another country until 2038.
Sri Lanka’s envoy to India has emphasised the need for Sri Lanka to redevelop the oil tanks in coordination with India following Sri Lanka's withdrawal from the East Colombo Terminal.
