Action will be taken against gas explosions - Alagiyawanna

COLOMBO (News 1st); State Minister for Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanna stated that if the respective manufacturing company has committed any offence in the production of gas, the law will be enforced strictly against such party.

Alagiyawanna believes that the issue regarding gas explosions has occurred due to the changes in the composition of the gases filled into the cylinders.

MP Anura Dissanayake questioned the State Minister, if the said changes to the composition were done following a proper procedure. He also asked why the company decided to remove the Mercaptan which are usually added to a gas cylinder.

"According to the standards put forward by the Standard Institute, it says nothing on the composition of the gas. The standard is on the pressure,” Alagiyawanna also pointed out that no institution has regulated gas manufacturing since the 1960s.

The State Minister also said that he expects the gas problem to be resolved 100 percent.

Alagiyawanna made these observations during the Budget Committee Debate on the Expenditure Head of the State Ministry of Consumer Protection.