Gas explosions: Authorities to obtain reports on gas smell

It has been decided to the release the gas to the local market after obtaining a report on gas smell, during the special meeting of Ministerial Consultative Committee today (1).

The committee met this morning to discuss about recent gas explosions under the chairmanship of Minister of Trade Dr. Bandula Gunawardena.

During the meeting, it was also decided to testing the quality of the imported gas on board the ship before it enters the country. Several agreements regarding the change in gas composition affected the current eruptions, importance of using high quality devices and obtaining the reports of the committee appointed by the President within two weeks and implementing its recommendations expeditiously were made during the meeting.

The special Ministerial Consultative Committee was held for further discussion on several issues raised by the Opposition in Parliament on 30 November, discussing on the matter with the involvement of several other parties. Ministry of Trade, State Ministry of Cooperative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection, Ministry of Technology, State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovation, Sri Lanka Police, Consumer Affairs Authority, Department of Measurement Units, Standards and Services, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd, LAUGFS Gas PLC, Sri Lanka Standards Institute, Sri Lanka Accreditation Board, Officials representing the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, the Ministry of Energy and the Department of Government Analyst were present at this meeting held. Furthermore, the former professor at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. W. D. W. Jayatilaka and Prof. Shantha Walpolage representing the University of Moratuwa were also present. Petroleum expert Nimal de Silva also joined the committee meeting.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa posed a number of questions at the Ministerial Consultative Committee and requesting a reply in writing as soon as possible.