Special consultative committee meeting ends without conclusion on gas explosions

• Experts from the University of Moratuwa had confirmed that the increase of Propane and Butane composition in LP gas to 50:50 could cause a higher probability of a leak from the regulator or hose

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The special consultative committee which met yesterday to discuss the recent gas explosions has failed to come out with a conclusion with regard to the cause of explosions, government and opposition MPs who participated in the meeting told journalists yesterday.   

Accordingly the MPs said it was decided to carry out further investigations to arrive at a  conclusion with regard to explosions as per several MPs who attended the meeting.   
MP Harsha de Silva said in his twitter message that the experts from the University of Moratuwa had confirmed that the increase of Propane and Butane composition in gas sold in Sri Lanka to 50:50, there is a higher probability of a leak from the regulator or hose.   

He said Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna informed this to the consultative committee meeting.  

MP. J. C. Alawathuwala said the meeting ended without a clear conclusion. “We the opposition MPs requested that the gas cylinders with the changed composition of Propane and Butane to be recalled from the market.  

The senior police officers who attended the meeting have said there have been no deaths from the explosions while a total of 11 people have been injured.  

Some of the other experts who were at the meeting had said cylinders cannot explode while regulators could. Some have ruled out problems caused by pressure. They therefore highlighted that gas cylinders can withhold pressure.   

Government MP Jayantha Ketagoda also confirmed that the meeting ended without a conclusion on the cause of the explosions.