There are around 250,000 to 300,000 dangerous LP gas cylinders in houeholds and business place in Sri Lanka but so far they have not been recalled by the gas companies, Professor W.D.W Jayatilleke told to Lankasara. He further said that even though the cylinders are recalled the gas company does not have technology to change its composition he further revealed.
“What the relevant gas companies need to do at this moment is to the dangerous number of tanks. Their composition should be removed. You need to have special equipment to do this process. But this company does not have that special device.”
Professor Jayatilleke further said that according to the company, about 100-200 tanks can be emptied per day. The company does not have the facilities to store the composition, although it should be emptied and stored in another container.
Retired Professor, who has a extensive background in academia as a professor in Chemistry of Sri Jayawardenapura University further elaborated that both gas companies were reluctant to admit that the fact that recent explosions are due to the change of gas composition.
” We pointed out here that in the year 2020, there were 51 such accidents. By the beginning of November 2021 such accidents were close to that. But between November 20 and December 5-6, about 700 such accidents were reported. A large number are still being reported today.
It is important to look at site inspections and police reports during this time to see what has changed. Has the gas stove changed ?. No. Did the pipe change ?. No. Did the regulator change? .. No Did the tank change ?. No. If there was a change then it was the gas in the tank.
But the companies initially rejected this but later we had to accept it in the future.
He further said that the report prepared by the expert committee with recommendations handed over to the President and his secretary Dr. P.B Jayasundera with a message that they further willing to engage with opinions regarding the measures to avoid such a disaster again but so far did not happen such a thing.
“We can not influence the company. However, if there is a problem, the committee can convene and ask what we should do if there is a problem.But that has not happened yet. We still have a problem with whether the customer is safe.”
