The Court of Appeal today issued an Interim Order preventing Litro Gas and Laughs Gas Companies from releasing gas cylinders for domestic use without specific standards prescribed by Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

 

The Court of Appeal further issued an interim order directing two gas companies to recall full and free/unused gas cylinders that went for domestic use that are either available in the market or with the consumers who wish to replace them, on free of charge basis.

 

The Court of Appeal ordered the two gas companies not to release gas cylinders without displaying the gas composition as prescribed by SLSI.

 

The Court further directed the two companies display the composition of Butane and Propane in the gas cylinders as prescribed by SLSI.

 

Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice Ruwan Fernando and Justice Sampath Wijeratne made this order pursuant to a writ petition filed challenging the gas companies' decision to release unsafe gas cylinders to the market was taken up before Court of Appeal.

 

The petition was fixed for argument on January 26.

 

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. 

 

Senior State Counsel Manohara Jayasinghe appeared for the Consumer Affairs Authority.  (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)