The Sri Lanka Standard Institution (SLSI) has not specified any standard for LP gas in the country the Litro Gas Company informed the Court of Appeal today.
President’s Counsel Harsha Amarasekara appearing for LitroGas, made these remarks when the writ petition filed against the authorities for allegedly releasing unsafe gas cylinders to the market was taken up before the Court of Appeal.
Mr Amarasekara informed the Court of Appeal that SLSI will specify new standards for LP gas and cylinders shortly and thereafter, the authorities will release the same to the market with a sticker.
Meanwhile, the Litro Gas Company gave the undertaking to display the composition of the gas by way of a stickier following the recommendations of SLSI.
The petitioner Nagananda Kodituwakku informed the court that the life of people is of paramount importance and authorities should ensure the safety of the people. He sought an order directing the authorities to collect the gas cylinders issued to the public without proper standard.
Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice RuwanFernando and Justice Sampath Wijeratne fixed the petition for further support on Thursday (16).
General Secretary of Vinivida Peramuna NaganandaKodituwakku 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. Dissanayakaand Director General of Sri Lanka Standard Institution SiddhikaSenarathne some consumers who use the LP gas cylinders have suffered physical injury and damage to their private properties due to explosions caused by leakage of gas from 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 a daily basis with no corrective measures taken by the Respondents to arrest the situation.
