Litro Gas Company, the largest importer and supplier of LP Gas in Sri Lanka today gave an undertaking to Court of Appeal that it will distribute only LP gas cylinders with specific standards approved by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) and Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

 

The Litro Gas Company gave this undertaking when the writ petition filed challenging the authorities' decision to release unsafe gas cylinders to the market was taken up before Court of Appeal.

 

The Litro Gas Company further  gave an undertaking to affix stickers displaying the composition of a domestic gas cylinder with specific standards approved by SLSI.

 

On Wednesday (15), the Litro Gas Company revealed that SLSI has not specified any standard for LP gas in the country.

 

Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice Ruwan Fernando and Justice Sampath Wijeratne announced that court will deliver an appreciate order regarding the petition on Friday (17).

 

General Secretary of Vinivida Peramuna Nagananda Kodituwakku filed this writ petition seeking an order directing the IGP to initiate criminal investigation against Minister Bandula Gunawardene, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman and Director General of Sri Lanka Standard Institution for allegedly releasing unsafe gas cylinders to the market.

 

The petitioner is further seeking an order directing the authorities to formulate healthy and safety standards for LP gas cylinders.

 

The Petitioner states that due to sheer negligence on the part of the Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman D.M.S. Dissanayaka and Director General of Sri Lanka Standard Institution Siddhika Senarathne some consumers who use the LP gas cylinders have suffered physical injury and damage to their private properties due to the explosions caused by leakage of gas from the unsafe gas cylinders which were only meant to withstand the pressure generated by the composition of Butane 80% and Propane 20%. 

 

The Petitioner states that these explosions occur on daily basis with no corrective measures taken by the Respondents to arrest the situation.

 

Nagananda Kodituwakku appeared himself for the petitioner.

 

President's Counsel Harsha Amarasekara appearing for Litro Gas Company. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)