Govt. rejects gas shipment

The government has rejected 3,700 metric tonnes of gas imported by Litro Gas Company on Saturday because it does not contain adequate amounts of ethyl mercaptan. This was detected when samples from the gas were tested.

Ethyl mercaptan is commonly used as an additive to odorless gases like butane, propane, and petroleum to warn users in case of leaks.

State Minister of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection, Lasantha Alagiyawanna said that if the dose of ethyl mercaptan was less than 15, the shipment would be rejected. “And the ethyl mercaptan level was low in this shipment and we rejected it.”

He added that another ship carrying gas had reached Sri Lanka on Monday. That ship remained out of the Colombo Port by yesterday evening and thus, the samples of gas it carried had not been tested.

Meanwhile gas explosions are still being reported from across the country. Yesterday morning, a gas cooker at the home of a Colombo University lecturer exploded at Thunnalai in Jaffna injuring his wife. The gas cylinder had been purchased on Sunday. Explosions were reported in Kesbewa, Kalutara, Anuradhapura and Hanguranketha in the 24 hours that ended at 12 noon yesterday. (RK)