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Litro embarks on ambitious project to supply pipe-borne gas to Colombo residents
After 149 years since British colonial times
by Suresh Perera
With the core objective of upscaling LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) availability in Sri Lanka, Litro Gas has embarked on an ambitious project to supply households in Colombo with pipe-borne cooking gas.
The move will see a network of gas lines in the metropolis 149 years after the then Colombo Gas & Water Co. pioneered the initiative during British colonial times. Gas was also used to illuminate street lights in Colombo at the time with the floating of the company in 1872.
“We have already given pipe-borne LPG connections to five households in Borella, Colombo 8, under a pilot project”, says Janaka Pathirathna, Director, Sales & Marketing, Litro Gas Lanka.
He said that it will be a step by step process to instal the network in Colombo on a wider basis depending on consumer demand for pipe-borne LPG. “If domestic consumers opt to switch to pipe-borne gas for easy accessibility, our technical teams are at hand to handle the installations swiftly”.
The connections will be given through the installation of a ‘cylinder bank’ with individual flow meters to households to measure the volume of usage in litres in keeping with global standards.”, he explained.
A ‘cylinder bank’ is akin to a transformer that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another, Pathirathna continued. “Households can gauge their LPG usage and make payment for consumption”.
Asked whether pipe-borne cooking gas cost more than the price of regular domestic cylinders, he replied, “the price per litre is on par as a18-litre hybrid cylinder is sold for Rs. 1,395, which works out to Rs. 77/50 per litre”.
Initially, customers will have to pay a ‘connection fee’ ranging from Rs. 20,000-50,000 depending on usage capacity as pipe-borne LPG can also be used to power generators, heaters, geysers and other such appliances, the director elaborated.
“There will be many product categories and packages offering diverse benefits to customers based on their specific needs under attractive payment methods”.
“It’s similar to opting for a telecommunications fibre connection, where an initial installation fee is applicable”, he pointed out.
He said that the pipe-borne LPG concept is ideal for condominiums, housing schemes and hotels as it ensures a smooth, uninterrupted flow and saves the cost and hassle of replenishing in-house cylinders.
Asked whether the project will be initially restricted to Colombo, Pathirathna outlined that expansion outside the city will happen on a gradual phased out basis taking into consideration consumer demand for the new initiative.
He said that gas pipelines extended from Colombo to Mt. Lavinia at the time the Gas & Water Co. launched the now defunct service. “With the passage of time, we should be able to move out to the suburbs”.
On the risk of gas pipelines in households exploding, he assured that it’s completely safe as there is no big pressure in the system.
Apart from utility services such as water, electricity and telephone links, an underground LPG outlet was also installed at the Colombo Port, he remarked.
Litro Gas Chairman/CEO, Anil Koswatte, stressed that in the global energy landscape, LPG is considered the safest and the most environmentally sound choice suitable for a variety of functions – from household requirements to industrial consumption.
LPG is increasingly emerging as the world’s preferred clean and green energy, he noted.
Although in-house LPG cylinders have been used in Sri Lanka for a considerable period of time, the safest and the most modern option operational worldwide is pipe-borne cooking gas that provides a safe, easy to access and environment friendly solution, he continued.
Introducing pipe-borne LPG is a step towards ensuring the highest safety protocols in LPG supply, while also ensuring an easy and convenient way of delivery to homes or workplaces, Koswatte said in a statement.
“Today, as energy industry dynamics change with consumer demand, the Company remains firmly committed to infusing change and transformation needed to meet changing requirements”.
“We are taking the concept of LPG supply beyond that of bringing a cylinder home and stocking it in the kitchen. This will take the LPG availability to the next level, by giving our customers safe and easy accessibility to the energy they need on demand”, the Chairman stressed.
Litro Gas Lanka’s Director, Health, Safety & Environment/Professional Business, Jayantha Basnayake says LPG supply via a pipeline is the standard procedure for global LPG operations. “We are introducing the same safety and ease of operations procedure to Sri Lanka with this”.
With Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) as its major stakeholder, Litro Gas Lanka holds a 75% market share in the LPG business.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
