In the backdrop of 12 explosions related to domestic gas cylinders have been reported so far across the country, The state Minister for Consumer Affairs today (29) failed also to make a statement in Parliament on whether the composition of domestic LP gas has been changed or not. This was delayed following the Moratuwa University team’s comment that it was not sufficient to have a report on a single test and they have recommended to collect more samples and subject for testing the State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna revealed in the Parilament this morning.
The LPG samples obtained last Friday were tested in the laboratory of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the report was forwarded to the Chemical Division of the University of Moratuwa. Another 12 samples were returned to the Petrolium Corporation laboratory yesterday , the state minister said.
The Minister of State stated in Parliament today that the reports will be handed over to the University of Moratuwa and the relevant experts report will be submitted most probably within today.
Minister Alagiyawanna further stated that 12 samples were taken from the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Ratnapura and Galle districts on the instructions of the University and handed over to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. He also pointed out that most are due today.
The State Minister of Consumer Affairs further stated
“There is no legal laboratory in our country to test gas from the sixties to the present. Also, there is no gas standard in this country. There is no such standard for gas composition in the world. But we have taken steps to formulate such a standard. The Standards Institution has recently drafted the relevant standards and has taken steps to obtain public views by publishing advertisements in three newspapers for public comment. One of these events will draw more attention to this as well.
Two samples were sent to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation last Friday for an examination of its composition in connection with the recent gas related situation in the country. Althouigh the report received on Saturday, University of Moratuwa stated that their opinion could not be expressed in a single report. Accordingly 12 samples were taken from Ratnapura, Kurunegala, Galle, Gampaha, Colombo and Kalutara districts. Those reports were sent to the University of Moratuwa today. Most of those reports are available today. During this week, I will provide a medium and long term proposal for immediate action in this regard. Thanks to everyone in the Chemical and Process Engineering department. There is an opinion among university researchers that increasing percentages affect stress. The President has also instructed that special teams be deployed by this Friday to take further reports. ”
