President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to keep line ministers informed of matters relating to the agreement with India on Trincomalee.

The agreement with India, entitled ‘Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for Cooperation in Economic Projects’ relates in particular to the World War era petroleum refinery that India and Sri Lanka have agreed to develop together.

At present Indian Oil Corporation subsidiary Lanka IOC runs 15 out of the 99 storage tanks in the lower oil tank farm in Trincomalee.

While India and Sri Lanka have in principle agreed to jointly operate the world war-era oil storage facility in Trincomalee, Petroleum Minister Chandima Weerakkody told The Hindu, they are currently negotiating the specifics of the joint venture.

President Sirisena's instructions indicate the differences of opinion among the key members of the ruling alliance over the proposed agreements with India.