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CEB,
CPC crisis The Sunday Times learns Mr. Premajayantha has proposed that a third of the fuel outlets which the government wants to hand over to Bharat Petroleum be stopped. Instead, he has recommended the setting up of another state corporation that should become the strategic partner with the CPC. In respect of the CEB, the minister has said this state concern should remain without its overall structure being dismantled. However, Mr. Premajayantha has proposed that the CEB be decentralised at a regional level and the performance studied after a period of time. If his recommendations are not accepted, Mr. Premajayantha has declared that no purpose would be served in his continuing to hold the current portfolio. Hence, he had said he would prefer to opt out to another. The re-structuring of the CEB was in order to qualify for further Asian Development Bank assistance. The first tranche had been obtained during the tenure of the previous UNF Government and a further US $ 60 million was overdue and has now passed an ADB deadline. However, the Government has obtained an extension. The CPC was to be privatised further by bringing in as third player India's Bharat Petroleum. Already, the Indian Oil Corporation is a strategic partner with the CPC and holds a third of its retail fuel outlets. Both these moves were strongly opposed by the UPFA Government's junior partner, the JVP JVP Parliamentary Group leader and spokesman Wimal Weerawansa has said Mr. Premajayantha's proposals are acceptable. However, he has said that his party will further study the matter in detail to propose amendments if necessary. The fuller details of Mr. Premajayantha's recommendations were being kept a secret. Power and Energy Ministry sources said he had spelt out the means through which funds could be raised without turning to the ADB or selling shares to India's Bharat Petroleum. |
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