Non adherence to expert committee advice caused current situation: Ministry

Due to not regulating domestic gas and appliances following the recommendations of the expert committee in the past, has contributed to the current situation, the Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection State Ministry said.

On November 30, 2021, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) requested the Imports and Exports Controller General should authorise the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) to standardise gas, cylinders and accessories.

He said a number of measures have been taken to provide short, medium and long term solutions to the recurrence of recent gas incidents.

As per the recommendation of the Finance Minister yesterday (12), action was taken to publish the relevant gazette notifications mandating standards in importing gas, cylinders, and accessories into the country as follows:

• 126 - Liquefied Petroleum Gas - SLS 712
• 127- Hose and hose assembly for liquefied petroleum gas - SLS 1172
• 128- Valve fittings for use with liquefied petroleum gas cylinders- SLS 1184
• 129- Pressure regulator and automatic liquefied petroleum gas converter - SLS 1180

Accordingly, gazette notifications regarding the above standards can be downloaded from the website www.imexport.gov.lk.

Hence, from now on, if gas, gas cylinders, and accessories are to be imported, applications should be submitted to the SLSI, and permission to import gas, gas cylinders, and accessories into the country should be obtained after obtaining the standard certificate prior to release from customs following the same procedure.

Accordingly, substandard gas, gas cylinders, and accessories will not enter the country after this action. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)