Interim relief will cause havoc counsel for gas company maintains

By Chitra Weerarathne

Additional Solicitor General, Farzana Jameel, PC said that the Consumer Affairs Authority had been directed to recall the old cylinders of gas from the market and to introduce new cylinders with a new colour wrap in future.

Nagananda Kodituwakku told the Court of Appeal that the day before yesterday a mother of four children had died. Public safety should be taken into account. The Attorney General should not be allowed to abuse his office.

Attorney-at-Law Harsha Amarasekera, PC said that the petition filed against the LP gas companies, did not give a proper picture.

The Court questioned whether the gas producing institutions would introduce a label indicating the composition of the gas, etc.

HAmarasekera replied that he needed to get instructions from his clients on that subject. He appeared for the producers of Litro Gas Pvt. Limited. He explained that a chemical was to be introduced to the LP gas so that a smell would emanate if there was any leak. Incidents of accidents this year were less than last year.

Social media have highlighted the events.

The President had instructed the police to produce a report on incidents of explosions, counsel Amarasekera said.

The Counsel asked for time to ascertain the composition of the LP gas as regards propane and methane.

Additional Solicitor General Farzana Jameel, PC said that directions had been given by the authorities to recall old sealed cylinders from the market. The Consumer Affairs Authority would have a new colour wrap on the cylinders in the future.

The Committee appointed by the President had submitted the report on the issue, Counsel Amarasekera said.

Petitioner Naganada Kodituwakku said that the Minister himself had admitted in Parliament there was a danger to people. The composition in Litro Gas containers was wrong as regards propane-butane ratio.

The petitioner requested for interim relief against the distribution of cylinders of gas.

Amarasekera PC said that the interim relief sought by Kodituwakku would create havoc. The Government Analyst had said that most of the media reports as regards the composition and explosion were false.

The petitioner was asking for interim relief only to get publicity and not to protect the people, counsel Amarasekera alleged.

Interim relief would affect everyone using gas. Only a very small percentage of gas consumers had been injured, he added.

Counsel Suren de Silva appearing for Laugfs Gas Pvt. Limited said that social media had created havoc. The problem was not with the composition of the gas, not even with the cylinders, but might be with the new accessories introduced.

The bench comprised Justice K. Priyantha Fernando (President of the Court of Appeal) and Justice Sampath B. Abeykoon.

Hearing is to be resumed today (15).