Millions of Fuel Sales Records Deleted in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); Concerns have surfaced regarding potential irregularities within the fuel distribution system during the recent fuel shortage crisis in Sri Lanka.

Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Company (CPSTL), is a joint venture between the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Lanka Indian Oil Company, responsible for receiving fuel from ships, storing it and distributing it to designated filling stations and facilities.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation holds a majority share in this joint venture.

What is the latest revelation?

More than 1.3 Million entries on the sales and distribution of petroleum products from Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL) on SAP data has been changed or deleted since 2010 and most has occurred in 2022 during the height of the fuel crisis.

According to a post on X by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, this is part of major findings of the forensic audit conducted by a private firm and CPSTL audit investigation on the sales and distribution of petroleum products from Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL).  

The forensic audit was initiated based on a complaint that the Minister made to the CID in August 2022 on irregularities at CPC & CPSTL.

Data had been erased or deleted from the system even when the forensic audit was taking place.

Reports revealed that an alleged data deletion incident reportedly occurred on November 24, 2023, at 2:43 AM, involving an employee of a private audit firm.

Reports suggest that the employee used another person's laptop to delete a significant amount of data. 

Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding the absence of this data in the backup system.

Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Company (CPSTL) acknowledged "reasonable suspicion" of data deletion and confirmed the involvement of an individual from a private audit firm, not a CPSTL employee.

Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Company clarified that the data was deleted from a remote login system.

The Managing Director of CPSTL Colonel S. R. P. Ratnayake said that the individual in question has been removed from ongoing forensic analysis.

CPSTL went on to note that an investigation into alleged data deletion is taking place as part of the ongoing forensic audit.

The timing of the data deletion, coinciding with the public's struggle during fuel shortages, raises concerns about potential irregularities.