No privatisation of any state institution - Minister

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Petroleum Industries Ministry plans to implement a number of projects this year with the objective of providing a high quality service to the public through the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation(CPC), Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

The minister said the ministry plans to take over all institutions privatised by previous governments.

The present government will never privatise any institution, he said.

"Under the Mahinda Chinthana Policy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the privatisation of all institutions that were under the purview of the Petroleum Industries Ministry has been completely stopped, " said the minister.

He said the Sapugaskanda oil refinery modernisation project will be started this year and the laying of the new pipeline from the Colombo Port to Kolonnawa will also commence.

Petroleum Industries Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardane, Ministry Secretary R S H Samaratunga and ministry officials participated.