President initiates Rs. 3.7 b oil storage expansion in Kolonnawa

PRESIDENT Anura Kumara Disanayake on Wednesday inaugurated the construction of six new oil storage tanks at the Kolonnawa Petroleum Storage Complex.

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The Rs. 3.7 billion project, awarded to an Indo East Engineering-Ceylex Engineering joint venture, will add three tanks of 15,000 cubic metres each — two of 7,000 cubic metres and one of 5.000 cubic metres — with completion targeted for September 2027.

"The Government has a responsibility to meet the energy needs of the people and we are committed to fulfilling that duty," President Disanayake said, calling for public support in what he described as a "progressive transformation" to secure energy sovereignty.

The President warned that attempts by trade unions to obstruct the Government's program would not be tolerated.

"If any trade union obstructs the program being implemented by the Government, we will not hesitate to take the necessary decisions," he asserted.

"No institution can move forward with outdated traditions alone, nor can it progress through human labour alone. To move forward, technology and science must be integrated," he added, stressing the need to modernise institutions Disanayake also drew attention to the challenges faced by the energy sector reforms, especially the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which has 26,000 employees under a single authority.