Dayasiri reveals Govt. MP given land at BIA for jet fuel facility

Thursday, 9 May 2024 03:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara

Stresses BIA and Mattala airports’ jet fuel sales by CPC vital for foreign exchange
Alleges despite investment in new BIA’s fuel supply system permits have been granted to private entities
Expresses concerns about Govt. potentially relinquishing CPC’s monopoly in favour of private companies

Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara levelled accusations against the Government yesterday, alleging that a Government MP was given a plot of land at the Bandara-naike International Airport (BIA) to establish a jet fuel storage facility.

When prompted by Government MPs to identify the MP in Parliament, Jayasekara declined to disclose his name, asserting that the Government was evidently already aware of his identity. Furthermore, he hinted at the person’s potential candidacy for the Presidency.

Emphasising the crucial role of jet fuel supply as a key contributor to the country’s foreign exchange earnings, Jayasekara highlighted that the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) alone sells a monthly average of 13 million litres of jet fuel, with an additional 3 million litres sold at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport.

The MP pointed out that despite the existing infrastructure in place at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for aircraft fuel supply, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has granted permits to Cannel Ltd., and Fits Aviation for the same purpose. Jayasekara said this decision comes despite the substantial investment of $ 51 million into the current system at BIA.

He said the Government MP has been granted a plot of land to provide the same service, in addition to Cannel and Fits Aviation.

Jayasekara raised concerns about whether the Government’s restructuring plans involve relinquishing the CPC’s monopoly, leading to the handing over of business opportunities to private entities instead.

In response, State Minister D.V. Chanaka highlighted that monopolies in jet fuel supply are not present in major airports worldwide. He noted that typically, five to ten companies are involved in supplying jet fuel across all airports. The Ministry’s objective, he said, is to introduce competition in jet fuel supply to promote competitive pricing.