• CPC says most of the 3,000 litres which leaked have been collected
• States no leakage into sea or waterways

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) stated that there will be no shortage of fuel despite the defect found in the oil pipelines connecting the Colombo Port to the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Limited in Kolonnawa.

Making a statement to the media yesterday (16), CPC Chairperson D.J.A.S. Rajakaruna said that the location of the defect had been identified by CPC officers, and the supply had returned to normal by yesterday afternoon. He also stated that around 3,000 litres of oil had leaked; however, most of the leaked oil had been collected.

He further stated that the oil shipment had been completely unloaded and that no issues had been reported following the incident. He confirmed that no oil had leaked into the sea.

"The leak was reported around 8 p.m. yesterday (15). As soon as the leak was identified, employees started collecting the oil, and later, we were able to confirm that the leak was in the 12-inch pipeline, not the 10-inch one. The shipment was completely unloaded. No oil leaked into the sea,” he said.

The Chairperson also noted that the total loss had not yet been calculated and that certain figures presented by trade unions were unreliable. He further stated that no delays had been reported in fuel supply due to this defect and assured that no fuel shortage would occur, as claimed by certain parties.

He added that tenders had been approved to upgrade the existing pipelines, which were built many years ago. "This pipeline system was first built 80 years ago. Since around 2003, previous governments have taken various measures to renovate it, yet nothing happened. Now we have received approval for a tender for an 18-inch pipeline,” he said.