Laying of the new aviation fuel pipeline from Muthurajawela to Katunayake began today under the President’s leadership, Hiru News reported.
The project builds a dedicated fuel transport pipeline connected to the refuelling terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport, together with an aviation fuel storage tank complex of 92,000 cubic metres and associated facilities at Muthurajawela. Modifications to the existing Muthurajawela terminal will be carried out at the same time.
Ten days from contract to ground
The start of work follows quickly on the award. Cabinet approved the contract to China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited on the recommendation of the High Level Procurement Committee, at a value of US$40.84 million plus Rs. 8,548.75 million, after an international competitive process that drew three bids — a decision LankaNewz reported on 22 September.
That award itself came close to 26 months after Cabinet granted in-principle approval for the project on 29 July 2024. The scope described today — the 92,000 cubic metre tank farm, the dedicated pipeline to BIA and the terminal upgrade — is identical to the scope set out in the contract award, with no change in specification.
Why the pipeline matters
Jet fuel for Bandaranaike International Airport is currently moved by road from the Muthurajawela terminal, roughly 15 kilometres to the south. A dedicated pipeline removes that tanker traffic from the route and ties airport refuelling directly to the storage complex.
Muthurajawela has been the subject of repeated capacity decisions through 2026, including Cabinet clearance for seven new oil tanks at the site in July and its inclusion in an August package of energy contracts.
Not reported
Hiru’s account does not give a construction timeline or completion date, does not say where along the route work has started, and does not name the President or any official as present at the site. It does not say how the project is financed, how the contract splits between its dollar and rupee components, or which operator will run the completed storage — the same gaps left open when the contract was awarded.
This report rests on a single verified newsroom. At the time of writing the Daily Mirror’s latest-news listing carried nothing on the start of work, no account appeared on EconomyNext, Daily FT, NewsFirst, the Island or news.lk, and Ada Derana remains unreachable. Hiru filed early on Friday morning Colombo time, and other desks may follow.
