President intervenes to resolve gas crisis

Rohan Mathes

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged Gas Companies to sort out their grievances with the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) in a manner the consumer public will not be unreasonably burdened.

Following a cordial discussion with the Management of Shell Gas Lanka, Laugfs Holdings and CAA Officials and also attended by Commerce and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardena and other officials at Temple Trees yesterday, President Rajapaksa was confident that the current and temporary LP gas shortage islandwide could be resolved by negotiations between the Gas Companies and the CAA authorities, at a meeting fixed for today.

Finance Director of Shell Gas Rimoe Saldin explained the circumstances under which the temporary LP gas shortage occurred beyond anybody’s control, following the bombing of the ‘Fire Fighting’ installation in Kerawalapitiya recently, resulting in their oil storage capacity being seriously affected. Saldin said it took a few days to resume normal operations and production.

However, he said there are ample stocks now and urged the consumer public to refrain from panic buying.

“We can fulfill the normal demands and the requirements of the market and there would not be an impending shortage. The consumers should nevertheless, in their own interest strive to preserve their domestic LP gas.”

He added that in addition to the available stocks, there is another shipment awaiting unloading of 2,500 tons of LP gas which will suffice and would meet the demand for another week.

Laugfs Holdings Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya said they did not have any shortage, but as a result of the current, temporary crisis at Shell Gas, there had been a strong demand for their gas within the past few days.

President Rajapaksa requested the parties to take up the other issue of pricing too at the meeting scheduled for today. He advised the parties to take a reasonable decision, keeping the consumers’ interest too in mind, in a manner the consumer is not unreasonably burdened.

The President added that the Gas Companies should also educate the consumer public of their inherent problems in the trade, so that they would understand and oblige accordingly.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, President’s Additional Secretary Gamini Senarath and Navy Commander V. Karannagoda also participated at the discussion.