CPC to be made profitable

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha said he will make the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) a profit making venture.

The Petroleum Industry is a key player in realising the Mahinda Chintana - Vision for the Future adding strength to the national economy, Minister Premajayantha said.

During an inspection tour of the CPC Head Office in Colombo 3, the Minister said the UNP regime tried to sell one third of the industry to a foreign company making Sri Lanka vulnerable to foreign interferences.

According to Minister Premajayantha, the CPC was established in 1962 during the time of Sirimavo Bandaranaike where many other State institutions were also established at the same time connected to the corporation.

The Minister pointed out that Sri Lanka still enjoys the monopoly of distributing oil because of the struggle carried out by trade unions including the SLFP trade union. The credit of saving the CPC goes to trade unions of Sri Lanka, he said.