Gas prices down
Shirley WIJESINGHE
COLOMBO: The Government brought down the prices of Laugfs and Shell
gas from midnight yesterday.
The new price of a domestic gas cylinder of Laugfs and Shell will be
Rs. 1,679 and Rs. 1,785.
“This is clearly passing the benefit of the decreasing world LP gas
price to local consumers,” Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula
Gunawardena told the media yesterday.
The Government had to increase and decrease the prices of a cylinder
of gas to adjust to the price fluctuation in the world market. The blame
came to the Ministry, Consumer Affairs Authority and finally to the
Government.
The price of an LP gas cylinder will be adjusted by a formula. One
formula has been applied to Laugfs Gas Company and another to Shell
company.
Shell Gas Lanka Limited has no access to local supply, and imports
its requirement of LP gas. Laugfs gas depends on local supply from
Petroleum Corporation, Minister Gunawardena said.
The Government was able to cut down the prices of domestic LPG due to
the significant decline of the price of oil in the world market, the
Minister said.
Commenting on the melamine issue, Minister Gunawardena said our
powdered milk products are not contaminated.
This has been confirmed by laboratory tests conducted in Singapore
with the assistance of local importers.
The sole responsibility of conducting investigation into such issues
is vested in the Health Ministry. The Consumer Affairs Authority however
entertains public complaints on harmful consumer items, the Minister
added.
If there is a shortage of rice during November and December, the
Minister said he would import sufficient rice stock to maintain a buffer
stock to stabilise the local price. |