Mystery LPG cylinder explosions rise to four so far this month

By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon and Anton Fernando

A gas cylinder exploded at a house in Pannipitiya, Kottawa at around 4 am yesterday. The house sustained substantial damage due to the explosion.

None of the residents were injured. A resident of the house said that they woke up hearing an explosion. When they opened the kitchen, they found that the gas cylinder had exploded and the kitchen had caved in.

Kottawa police and the Government Analyst’s Department are investigating the blast.

This is the fourth gas cylinder explosion so far this month. On 04 November, an explosion occurred at a restaurant at Kapparaththota, Weligama injuring three people. On 16 November, another explosion took place at a restaurant in Ratnapura and on 20 November a gas cylinder exploded at McDonald’s at the Race Course.

Litro Gas Lanka Sales Director Janaka Pathiratne has denied the allegation that these incidents occurred as Litro has changed the composition of gas. He said the cylinders had not exploded, and explosions may have been caused by gas leaks.

“None of the cylinders exploded. Even the race course incident was the result of a gas leak, due to negligence. We have not changed the composition of the gas. We are a company that has been operating for 150 years and own 80% market share. We wouldn’t do anything to undermine our credibility,” he said.