• The natural gas production would bring approximately $ 200 billion to the country
• No plan to harness them

There are five billion barrels of fuel and about five trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Mannar Basin, which is enough to meet the country’s needs for about 60 years, a statement form the Parliamentary Media Unit said.   
According to presentations made before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), these resources could be harnessed to increase power generation to 1130 kilowatts and the natural gas production would bring approximately $ 200 billion to the country in various sectors in the span of 25 years.  

 However, COPA questioned the officials present on their failure to explore this area and plan out a proper procedure to obtain the revenue that could have been brought to the country from various sectors, by commercially producing gas from the two identified deposits.  

 Officials present said it was difficult to find a reliable investor for the project and added that the number of employees of the Sri Lanka Petroleum Development Authority was not sufficient to deal with it.

• Officials present said it was difficult to find a reliable investor for the project
• The number of employees of Sri Lanka Petroleum Development Authority was not sufficient