Political consensus for oil quest

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: The Government has decided to consult the views of all interested parties before exploring oil along the country’s sea belt.

The decision is aimed at enabling political parties, civil society organisations and individuals interested in the venture to voice their opinion as to how the oil deposits, detected in the North-Eastern and Southern seas, could be best exploited.

“A programme was earlier drawn up by my Ministry for the exploration. But we have come to know that there are many parties with diverse opinions about the process. Since the oil deposits are a national asset, we decided to give them an opportunity to express their views,” Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said.

Accordingly, President Mahinda Rajapaksa will shortly convene a meeting of political party representatives and other interested sectors to obtain their proposals on utilising the oil deposits in the best interests of the country.

Meanwhile, seismic studies to explore oil deposits in the Gulf of Mannar have been completed by the Norwegian company which took up the task. “We are planning to commence studies along the Jaffna sea belt once the discussions are concluded,” he added.

The Government last year announced that a massive oil deposit has been detected along the sea belt from Puttalam to Mannar.