The Federation of National Organisations has asked President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to put an immediate halt to the ongoing process of entering into an agreement with India, purportedly to develop the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm. It has called for a thorough investigation into the questionable deal.
A letter signed by FNO Convener Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera addressed to the President says the then government of Ceylon took possession of 99 tanks at the farm paying Sterling Pounds 250,000 to the British Navy in 1964. That government did so, taking the national interests into serious consideration. The so-called agreement process contained serious technical flaws. Agreements made without following due process are null and void before the law. Therefore, the President should immediately stop this process and make a full revision of it. Any decision taken otherwise owing to the pressures of public protests or court decisions will pave the way for serious repercussions which would be detrimental to the image and sustenance of the government and Indo-Sri Lanka relations.
The FNO says that the government instead should pay attention to make a policy decision to ensure energy security of the country by retaining its hold on bunkering.
Informed public opinion in this country today is that the process of handing over 99 tanks to the LIOC is questionable. People do not trust this agreement and there will be public protests, the letter has said.