Sri Lanka, April 17 -- Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), D. J. Rajakaruna, has firmly rejected claims that Sri Lanka procured crude oil at a price exceeding $286 per barrel when importing fuel to Sri Lanka.

Addressing a media briefing today (17), he emphasized that at no point had a barrel of crude oil been procured at such a high price.

He noted that, following the onset of the conflict in the Middle East, a shipment of crude oil arrived in the country on March 11 at a price of USD 66.99 per barrel.

He further stated that another crude oil tanker is scheduled to arrive today (17) at a price of USD 71.99 per barrel.

While rejecting claims regarding crude oil prices, the Chairman clarified that the CPC had been compel...