India denies scrapping of bilateral understanding

  India today denied that the understanding between India and Sri Lanka to jointly develop and operate the Upper Tank Farm at Trincomalee has been scrapped. In a statement the Indian High Commission stated there is no truth in reports in some sections of media that the understanding between India and Sri Lanka on jointly developing and operating the Upper Tank Farm at Trincomalee has been ‘scrapped’. These reports the statement said did not correctly portray remarks made by the Minister of Energy of Sri Lanka at an event on 17 February 2021.  The Minister has himself clarified the matter in detail today through a press briefing. As indicated in the Minister’s briefing also, the two Governments have consulted each other to explore mutually acceptable modalities for jointly developing and operating the facility in accordance with existing bilateral understandings, including the MoU of 2017. India looks forward to formal discussions on the matter, and expeditious implementation of their outcome to mutual benefit.it said. Nevertheless Minister Udaya Gammanpila addressing a meeting on Wednesday said that the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm will be re-acquired and that the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka had accepted the proposal put forward by Sri Lanka.