News
Govt. seeks crude oil from Iraq
The Government is planning to buy Iraqi crude oil which is similar to the Iranian crude so that the fuel could be refined at the Sapugaskanda complex and has appointed a senior diplomat to work this out, a top official said yesterday.
“Oil deposits in Northern Iraq bordering Turkey are similar to Iranian crude and could be refined at Sapugaskanda, thereby reducing costs on the import of refined petroleum products,” External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatilleke Amunugama said.
He said senior diplomat Sumith Nakandala had been asked to work out this arrangement with Iraqi authorities.
The EAM Secretary said that apart from oil, the Government was also looking at enhancing other ties between the two countries. These would include the export of tea and ready-made garments and job opportunities there for Sri Lankans.
The Government has made several appeals to the United States to exempt Sri Lanka from its sanctions on Iran, but to no avail. The opposition has claimed that the US refusal was largely due to the strain in ties between Sri Lanka and the United States over human rights and related issues.
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