State Minister of Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanna says the distribution and sale of domestic gas cylinders was suspended due to the lack of the chemical that causes an odour, to help identify LP gas.
According to the set standard the chemical, ethyl mercaptan, must remain at 14 units.
However, it was confirmed that it was present in lesser quantities in recently distributed gas cylinders.
Accordingly, State Minister Alagiyawanna said gas companies were instructed to suspend the supply until ethyl mercaptan is included in the gas cylinders that are currently available in the market.
Meanwhile, an investigative team has visited the gas ship that is nearing Sri Lanka, and obtained gaes samples.
Permission will not be granted for the gas to be unloaded from the ship, until the test results arrive.
State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said the report is due this evening or tomorrow morning.
