Aviation oil leaking again from pipeline

The pipeline, from Colombo Port to the Kolonnawa Oil Storage Tanks, has sprung a leak for the second time in six days yesterday spewing out more aviation oil at Meetotumulla behind the paddy stores.

Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) media spokesman Nissanka Jayawardene who rushed to the scene told Daily Mirror that the leak was on the same pipeline that leaked on October 30.

He said leaks such as these could be expected because the pipeline was more than 60 years old and added that new pipelines had been planned to replace the older ones.

Mr. Jayawardene said the leaking had not caused a major disaster as there was no bunkering from the Colombo Port to Kolonnawa Tanks at the time.

Residents in the vicinity said the pipeline had been leaking from midnight Sunday and that some of them

Leaks such as these could be expected because the pipeline was more than 60 years old

carrying cans and bottles had rushed to the scene to collect the leaking fuel.

A gully bowser was rushed to the scene by the CPSTL to suck the oil that was gushing out. CPSTL workers said the gully bowser had the capability to separate the oil from the water. The fuel collected will be stored at Kolonnawa to be refined.

The pipeline was plugged and a rubber sheets wrapped around it to stop the leak. An iron clamp was also fixed to ensure safety.