Attempt to steal petrol from CPC bowser foiled

Jayantha de Silva

Two suspects taken into custody at the Badulla bulk oil storage depot for allegedly storing petrol in a compartment built inside the storage tank of a private bowser hired by the Petroleum Corporation were yesterday produced before Additional Magistrate

Praharsha Ranasinghe and remanded till April 26.

The suspects in this case are Nalaka Hemantha and Pushpakumara, the driver and the cleaner of the bowser.

The Petroleum Corporation Kolonnawa Investigations Unit with Wellampitiya Police prosecuting said that initial suspicion was aroused when a seepage of petroleum was detected inside the tank of the bowser which had unloaded fuel at the Badulla Bulk Depot.

Upon investigations around 400 litres of petrol was found inside a secret compartment built in the tank of the bowser.

The bowser had been loaded with petrol at the Petroleum Corporation’s Muthurajawela Terminal Complex.