The news reports claimed that Sri Lanka had purchased one million crude oil barrels, amounting to Rs. 10 billion from Iran despite an ongoing embargo imposed by the US.

 

Reports further added that the ship bearing the oil stock was heading towards Sri Lanka.

 

Speaking to 'BBC Sandeshaya' on this regard, Secretary of the Power and Energy ministry - Suren Batagoda said that he has only learnt of this when the US embassy in Colombo inquired about it.

 

Noting that such a ship had travelled towards the island but had not entered Sri Lanka's waters, Mr. Batagoda said that the Sri Lankan government or the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has no connection to the the ship's cargo.

 

He has also added that he has informed of this to the Foreign ministry and to the US embassy.

 

Although it was initially learnt that the ship was from Liberia, it was later learnt that the ship was from Libya, he had further said.

 

The ministry secretary re-emphasised that Sri Lanka has not purchased oil from Iran so far after the sanctions were imposed.

 

(BBC Sandeshaya)