Release Expert Committee report on LP gas explosions

The report of the expert committee appointed to investigate on LP gas cylinders was handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on 20 December and both the print and electronic media gave extensive coverage regarding the handing over the report at the Presidential Secretariat.

The public was well aware that the committee undertook to prepare the report by examining aspects of the gas explosion and fires scientifically. The two gas companies made a desperate attempt to hoodwink the consumers and the expert’s committee findings proved that the change of the composition is the main cause of explosions.

We believe that the report has exposed the circumstances that led to LP gas explosions besides proposing far-reaching recommendations and policy interventions as to how those unfortunate explosions could be minimized or averted in future. However, the public has been kept in the dark on the full contents of the report for the last ten days; it has not been released to the public.

Even after the rulings given by the Court appeal, the gas explosions have been taking place daily, causing mayhem to the consumers and the public has a right to know whether the two gas companies have abided by the recommendations of the expert committee.

The government’s decision not to make the committee report public and the silence of the authorities would lend credence to the suspicion that the committee recommendations have not been implemented.

We would greatly appreciate if the authorities concerned publish this report considering its national importance.

Athula Ranasinghe

Nugegoda