The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) informed the Court of Appeal today that the authority has directed the gas companies to accept partially used cylinders returned by the consumers. The CAA pointed out there could be suspicions over its reliability.
Senior State Counsel Manohara Jayasinghe appearing for the CAA, made these remarks when a writ petition challenging the gas companies’ decision to release unsafe gas cylinders, was taken up before the Court of Appeal.
Public interest litigation activist Nagananda Kodituwakku, who filed this petition, alleged that respondent parties, including gas companies, have failed to implement the court order to recall partially used gas cylinders that do not conform to the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) specifications
In reply, SSC Manohara Jayasinghe said CAA has taken steps to publish paper advertisements notifying the general public to return partially used suspected gas cylinders.
The consumers can return the same to the nearest distribution agents or selling agents to get a new gas cylinder with a price reduction, calculated as per the current market prices amounting to the gas remaining in the respective returned gas cylinders.
The CAA further agreed before the Court that necessary arrangements to carry this message on electronic media channels will soon get underway.
Court of Appeal bench comprising Justice Ruwan Fernando and Justice Sampath Wijeratne fixed the petition for support on February 8.
Counsel that represented the Litro Gas Company sought yet another date since the senior counsel has tested positive for Covid-19.
The applicant Nagananda Kodituwakku stressed the necessity of hearing this case as much as possible since it directly affects the millions of LPG gas consumers in the country.
On December 17 last year, the Court of Appeal issued an interim order preventing the authorities from releasing gas cylinders for domestic use without specific standards prescribed by SLSI.
The Court of Appeal also ordered the two gas companies not to release gas cylinders without displaying the gas composition, as prescribed by SLSI. The Court had further directed the two respondents to carry on the gas cylinder, the ratio of Butane and Propane in the gas cylinders as prescribed by SLSI.
General Secretary of Vinivida Peramuna Nagananda Kodituwakku filed this writ application 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 applicant is seeking another order directing the authorities to prescribe healthy and safe standards for LP gas cylinders.
The Petitioner states that due to sheer negligence 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 almost every day with no corrective measures taken by the Respondents to arrest the situation.
