Former Secy, Acting Commercial indicted for contaminated fuel purchase

By T.Farook Thajudeen

The former Secretary and Acting Commercial Manager of the Petroleum Industries Ministry  were indicted before the High Court for committing  monetary  loss  to the government by knowingly and intentionally acting to purchase 1,63,287 barrels of  sub standard gasoline to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC).

The Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption yesterday indicted the Petroleum Industry Ministry’s former Secretary Titus Mendis Jayawardena of NHS Mattegoda and the acting Commercial Manager Uditha Wimalanath Doloswela of Galavila Watte Homagama for purchasing sub standard gasoline by making use of their office as the Secretary and the Acting Commercial Manager of the Ministry. The indictment said that the gasoline purchased between May 13, 2011 and April 18, 2012 did not fall within the Ministry’s accepted standards and thereby had intentionally and willfully caused the government a monetary loss.

It was charged that they had purchased 1,63287 barrels of Gasoline 92 UNL from Emirate National Oil Company of Middle East while knowing that they were below substandard and not fit for use and for distributing the same.  They were indicted of offences punishable under Section 70 of the Bribery Act.

The Commission indicted the suspects under two offences on each of them for purchasing the sub standard gasoline from the company and for distributing the sub standard gasoline in the local market.

The Commission listed 25 witnesses and 36 documents as proof.

The Court issued notice on the accused to appear before court on January 22, 2013.