The proposed multi-product petroleum pipeline between India and Sri Lanka will materialize only if it is economically viable but not on political considerations, an official said yesterday.
Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) W.A. Rajakaruna told Daily Mirror that the two sides are assessing the project for its feasibility at the moment.
He said he participated in talks in this regard with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake last week.
“We will assess the project for its feasibility. We will press ahead only if it is feasible. We cannot decide on it over political reasons only,” he said.
The tripartite project involving India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been envisaged in the joint statement between the two countries, signed during the visit of the President to New Delhi in December, last year.
It is part of the energy connectivity between the two countries . There is a proposal for power grid connectivity between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka now contemplates direct fuel purchases from the UAE and Qatar instead of current procurement from the open market through a tender process.
Mr.Rajakaruna said initial discussions were held with the UAE embassy here, and another round of discussion will be held with a technical team from that country.
However, no discussion had taken place with the UAE authorities during the President’s visit there recently.