Hon. Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways Rohitha Abegunawardhana and Dr.Priyath B.Wickrama Chairman of SLPA commissioning the new oil tank at the SLPA oil terminal premises during the  chanting of  'Seth Pirith'. Managing Director of SLPA Capt.Nihal Keppetipola and the Managing Director/CEO JCT Ltd; Mr.W.G.Samarathunga are also present.

With the view to promote Sri Lanka as a maritime, commercial and energy hub in the region under the 'Mahinda Chinathana' programme of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has taken immediate steps to construct another new oil storage tank with the capacity of 5,200 metric tons at its Blue Mandhal oil terminal premises to enhance the storage capacity. The tank was commissioned today by Hon.Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways Rohitha Abeygunawardhana in the presence of Dr.Priyath B.Wickrama - Chairman of SLPA, Capt.Nihal Keppetipola - Managing Director of SLPA,  Mr.W.G.Samarathunga -  the Managing Director/CEO JCT Ltd; and other officials and representative of  bunker license holders. A number of officials of SLPA and the JC T Ltd; were also present at the occasion. 

The premises which had been privatized in 2002 was restored to SLPA following the Supreme Court Judgment in 2008. SLPA at the custom's approved took  steps accordingly, to store petroleum products imported by bunker license holders. 11 bunker license holders are currently registered in SLPA for the purpose of applying bunkers to the ocean going vessels. 

When the SLPA took over the oil terminal in September 2008, there had been twelve tanks with the storage capacity of 29,500 metric tons. With the commissioning of the new tank for the purpose the total storage capacity at the facility has been raised up to 35,000 metric tons.  A decision has also been made by the SLPA to construct another storage tank with 10,000 metric tons capacity to enhance the total capacity up to 45,000 metric tons.  A new boiler is also being installed to maintain higher efficiency and productivity tends for supplying petroleum products from the bond  to the bunker barges. 

A hundred and fifty million rupees project to replace the existing pipe line to transfer petroleum products from the Port of Colombo to the oil terminal owned by the SLPA and vise-versa will be commenced shortly and the entire project will be funded by the SLPA. The infrastructure development project undertaken by the SLPA will assist in promoting Sri Lanka as an effective and efficient maritime hub in the region.
(CPRD-01092011)