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Oil tank deal on PM's Indian agenda
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during his visit to New Delhi next month will discuss the leasing of a section of the oil tanks in Trincomalee to India with the hope of finalizing details, government sources said.

The Sunday Times learns that India has shown an interest in obtaining a section of the oil tanks lying idle in the 1000 acre tank farm in China Bay on lease.
Sources said the matter would be discussed at cabinet level before a decision was taken.

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman Daham Wimalasena told The Sunday Times that proper discussions on the matter had not been held so far, though the Indian Oil Corporation was carrying out some studies there.

Indian High Commissioner Gopal Krishna Gandhi early last month accompanied by his economic and commerce advisor W. Ashok and Petroleum Corporation officials visited the oil tank farm.

US-based oil companies have also shown interest in obtaining some of these tanks on lease. The CPC has 99 tanks with a capacity of 12,100 metric tons each in China Bay but only 15 of them are used currently. Several foreign companies have also shown interest in the oil tanks.

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