Driver and Assistant Arrested for Diesel Theft from Petroleum Corporation Bowser in Batticaloa

March 01, 2025 16:08 [Eastern News]

Kanagarasa Saravanan

Two employees of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, a bowser driver and his assistant, were arrested for allegedly stealing and illegally selling diesel worth LKR 943,800. The Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court has ordered their remand until March 3rd.

Incident Details

The incident took place on Thursday (29th February) when the accused were transporting fuel to a filling station in Ampara. Instead of delivering the full load of 3,300 liters of diesel, they allegedly siphoned off a significant portion while only dispensing a small quantity into the designated underground storage tank.

The owner of the filling station became suspicious and reviewed the CCTV footage, which reportedly showed the suspects driving away with the stolen fuel still inside the bowser. He immediately alerted the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s Batticaloa office, which used the GPS tracking system to locate the vehicle in the Kallady area.

Acting on this information, the police launched an operation and discovered the suspects transferring the stolen diesel from the bowser into plastic containers for illegal sale. The driver and his assistant were arrested on the spot, and the stolen diesel along with the containers was seized as evidence.

Legal Action

Following their arrest, the two suspects, who are residents of Kiran Kulam and Kallady, were presented before the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court on Friday (March 1st). The Magistrate ordered their remand until March 3rd, pending further investigations.

Authorities are continuing their inquiries into the case, and further legal action is expected against those involved in the illegal fuel trade.

29

March

Two Arrested for Aiding Deshabandu Tennakoon’s Disappearance, Including Police Officer

March 29, 2025 17:24

A police constable and another individual have been arrested for allegedly assisting suspended Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon in evading arrest, the Police Media Division confirmed.

29

March

Sarith N. Silva Becomes First Sri Lankan to Hit 10 Million YouTube Subscribers

March 29, 2025 15:45

Sarith N. Silva, the creator of the popular YouTube channel Wild Cook Book, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Sri Lankan to surpass 10 million subscribers on YouTube.

28

March

Private Bus and Three-Wheeler Catch Fire Suddenly – No Injuries Reported

March 28, 2025 21:34

Two vehicles unexpectedly caught fire today in separate incidents on the Southern Expressway and in the Nuggegoda area.

28

March

Myanmar Earthquake Claims 144 Lives, Hundreds Injured

March 28, 2025 21:27

The devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar has claimed at least 144 lives, according to reports from the country’s military.

27

March

U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung Visits Sri Kotha for Key Discussions

March 27, 2025 20:29

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, paid a visit to the headquarters of the United National Party (UNP), Sri Kotha, today for a crucial discussion with the party’s leadership.