Committee on LP gas issues hands over report to President

The final report of the committee appointed to look into the recent incidents of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder-related incidents, was handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by its Chairman Prof. Shantha Walpola, today (December 20).

The committee was appointed by the President on November 30 to look into the incidents that took place at domestic, commercial, and sales outlets in various parts of the country and to uncover possible causes of the problem in order to provide immediate solutions to the issue.

Accordingly, the committee prepared its report after taking into account the investigations carried out in 11 institutions including the on-site inspections and inquiries conducted on two major LPG companies, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. and Laughs Gas PLC, an inspection of 17 places where fires and explosions occurred and considering the views received by e-mails.

Chaired by Prof. Shantha Walpola of the Moratuwa University, the committee also includes Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon, Prof. Ajith de Alwis of Moratuwa University, Prof. W.D.W Jayathilaka of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. Pradeep Jayaweera, Commissioner of  Sri Lanka Inventors Commission Prof. Narayana Sirimuthu, Additional Director General of Industrial Technology Institute Dr. Sudarshana Somasiri and Senior Deputy Director (Technical) at Sri Lanka Standard Institute Sujeewa Mahagama.

The assistance of Dr. Saliya Jayasekara of the University of Moratuwa was also obtained in this regard.

The committee’s chairman Prof. Shantha Walpola said a comprehensive report has been prepared under two main factors of ascertaining incidents and finding root causes of accidents on the investigation of gas cylinder fires and explosions.

He also stated that the report of the committee has presented short-term and long-term measures that should be taken to overcome the current situation.

Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Ministry of Technology Jayantha de Silva and Members of the Committee were also present.