Covert operations are underway in collecting commissions through crude oil smuggling on a large scale amidst the severe difficulties suffered by the people due to the restrictions imposed on fuel imports triggered by the forex crisis in Sri Lanka, informed sources disclosed.
Our correspondents said that two crude oil shipments brought to the island recently are revealed to have ‘heavy’ crude oil, a type of oil that can only be refined into diesel and bitumen, when the Sri Lankan-based ‘Sapugaskanda’ Oil Refinery requires the ‘light’ crude oil type. The shipments have already been paid for the crude oil stocks they delivered, they added.
The Refinery being unable to turn ‘heavy’ crude oil into fuel would be disastrously a loss-incurring situation to the country, and the deal is revealed to have involved a powerful political figure in Sri Lanka, the sources added.
Following the staggering revelation, the party that exported the crude oil stock questioned as to why Sri Lanka approved the stocks during the quality check phase, had the type been inconsistent with the country’s requirement.
Accordingly, all officers responsible for the quality check phase of the crude oil import are likely to be facing an inquiry, sources further disclosed.
A barrel of this crude oil was obtained from Russia at a price of US $ 30 each and sold to Sri Lanka for US $ 95 each, transferring a profit of about US $ 60 each from one barrel into the accounts of the concerned politician and the company that supplied the stock, correspondents further told LNW.
MIAP
