UNP holds Petroleum Minister responsible for substandard diesel fiasco

Main opposition United National Party (UNP) says that the substandard fuel imports to the country has resulted in the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) incurring losses amounting to Rs. 100 million.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a news conference yesterday that Petroleum Minister should take the responsibility for the importing of substandard fuel from a black listed company.

He said the CPC has been accused of importing substandard fuel on three occasions.

Attanayake further said that the CPC has recorded a loss of Rs. 100 million by importing 40,000 metric tons of substandard fuel.

However, he pointed out that the Minister has blamed the CPC officials for the importation of substandard fuel.

According to the opposition MP the CPC after incurring massive losses from the hedging deal and placing the burden on the people is now trying to further burden the consumers with losses incurred by importing substandard fuel. Attanayake also said that everything the Government does from diesel to exams is ‘inferior.