The Samagi Jana Balawegaya says the government is attempting to hand over the responsibility of the gas crisis which has arisen due to substandard gas, to gas companies.
Speaking during a media briefing in Colombo today, Parliamentarian JC Alawathuwala said the present administration has not taken any steps to resolve the prevailing issue at a time when consumers are facing a serious crisis.
MP Alawathuwala claimed the government cannot pass on the blame since the Litro Gas Company is a state-owned entity.
The MP said a female has lost her life, while many including children have suffered serious injuries, in over 600 gas leak explosions that were reported.
He said the State Minister of Consumer Protection is making various claims to media adding no steps have been taken despite the State Minister’s claim in Parliament that a report will be tabled after conducting investigations.
MP Alawathuwala charged the Chairman and the Board of Directors of the gas company of deliberately committing the offence.
He said the incidents have been proven to have not been coincidental as it was proven that there was in fact a change in the composition of gas cylinders.
Furthermore, MP Alawathuwala charged that lowering the standard of gas cylinders was a deliberate crime.
He said according to known facts, gas companies had filled and released over 400,000 gas cylinders that were supposed to be discarded to the market.
The MP said the State Minister and the gas company claimed gas cylinders that contain the red label are safe to use adding however media reported these cylinders are also leaking and causing explosions.
He questioned why levels of ethyl mercaptan which helps in identifying gas leaks were reduced, claiming it was done deliberately by the gas company.
The MP said this was a very dangerous situation as there was no way of identifying a gas leak due to the lack of smell.
