Litro Gas, COOPFED helps low income families
Special loan scheme to purchase products :
Litro Gas Lanka Limited has teamed up with the Sri Lanka Consumer
Co-operative Societies' Federation Ltd (COOPFED) to launch a special
loan scheme for the benefit of low income families to enjoy the
convenience of cooking with LP gas.
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Litro Gas and COOPFED signed an
agreement to distribute LP Gas through the Co-operative
network. Litro Gas Chairman Gamini Senarath exchanging the
agreement with COOPFED Chairman U K D Palitha Rohana. Litro
Managing Director P Kudabalage and Consumer Affairs Minister
Johnston Fernando and COOPFED General Manager, D S K
Pathirana looks on. Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa |
The COOPFED is one of Sri Lanka's largest consumer goods retail
chains which have branches spanning across the country from main towns
to the remotest village, thus reaching across section of society.
This year, Litro Gas has injected over 180,000 new domestic cylinders
into the market. Despite having a total of more than three million Litro
Gas cylinders circulating in the country, it is estimated that only
25-30% of households in Sri Lanka use LP gas as a cooking fuel. Most low
income families in the suburbs and rural areas use firewood since it is
freely available.
However, as most kitchens are not designed for the proper release of
smoke, it has become a health hazard for residents, affecting mostly
women and children.
A research conducted by the UNDP reveals that smoke released by
burning firewood in a closed environment can lead and aggravate asthma,
pneumonia, tuberculosis and other lung diseases. LP gas has been proven
to be a cleaner, healthier, convenient and reliable mode of energy for
cooking.
However, the main entry barrier to change from a smoke ridden
environment caused by a firewood stove to a clean and healthy lifestyle
using LP gas stoves is the initial cost involved in purchasing a LP gas
cooker, cylinder and accessories.
Therefore, the main objective of this joint project between Litro Gas
and COOPFED is to break through this entry barrier by offering a special
loan scheme to any non-user to purchase a 'LP gas cooker package bundled
with a Litro Gas cylinder' from selected COOPFED outlets islandwide.
This 'cooker package' consists of a domestic Litro Gas cylinder, a
table-top gas cooker, regulator, hose and clips.
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