Govt to amend CAA Act

Irangika RANGE

The Government is planing to amend the Consumers Affairs Authority Act no 9 of 2003 with immediate effect, formulating new regulations for the LPG gas price reductions to ensure more relief to Consumers.

Addressing a media-briefing held in Colombo yesterday, Trade, Marketing development, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardhana said that the Act presently has regulations only for the increase of the LPG Gas prices.

“We will make the CAA Act stronger, inserting regulations for a gas price reduction. The Amendment has already been forwarded for the attention of Attorney General and is due to be presented to Parliament shortly.”

He said several parties are engaged in false propaganda to mislead the people regarding the LPG Gas prices. The truth is that the both Laugfs and Shell Gas prices have been reduced respectively by Rs.53 and Rs.12 from July 1 which is a price reduction compared to the gas prices evaluated in March.

The price of a 12.5 kg domestic Shell gas cylinder was Rs.1749 in March while it was priced at Rs.1737 from today recording a Rs.12 price reduction. The price of a 12.5 domestic Laugfs gas cylinder has been reduced by Rs.53. The price of 12.5 kg Laugfs gas cylinder was Rs.1721 in March. Now it is Rs.1,668.

He said that the LPG gas price was evaluated following the Saudi Aramco Price Formula and the CAA has permitted only a Rs.8 price increase for the 12.5 kg of Shell gas cylinder while the price of the 12.5 kg of Laugfs gas has been reduced by Rs.53 from yesterday.

“If any company is not satisfied with this price revision, they can go before the courts under the regulations of the Act. As a responsible Government, We are always engaged in providing maximum relief to Consumers.

“We always stand behalf of Consumers and It is a reason for receiving of more insults and humiliate for us,” He said.

We never allow errant traders to create an unnecessary shortage in the market and if it is happens, as a responsible Government we will protect Consumers by controlling the prices, he added.