By Yohan Perera   

Alleging that there is a large scale scam involving the purchasing of oil, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday said it will file complaints with the Bribery Commission and with the CID.  

SJB MP Kabir Hashim told media that a sum of dollars 90 to 95 is being paid for a barrel of oil purchased from Russia though it is possible to purchase a barrel at dollars 68. “ Although a total sum of dollars 190 million is being paid for the consignment of crude oil, it has been possible only to produce 80 metric tonnes of refined oil out of it. It would have been possible to import 200,000 metric tonnes of refined oil for the amount spent for crude oil if action was taken to import refined oil instead,” MP Hashim said.   

“ Another issue is that oil purchased following tender procedures are not unloaded while oil purchased without following tender procedures are unloaded,” he added.   

“ The subject minister should come out and make a statement on these matters,” he  said.