Minister condoles with gas leak victims’ families

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha yesterday condoled with the families of the two employees who died following a gas leak at the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery.

The minister directed CPC officials to attend to the funeral arrangements and also take care of the medical expenses and other needs of the seven injured workers, the Petroleum Industries Ministry Media Unit said in a release. The minister also told the management to conduct an immediate investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, the manager of the Refinery Neil Jayasekera said the gas leak occurred on Friday when maintenance work was underway at the refinery. Immediate steps were taken to admit the injured to hospital.

He said there was no threat of any further contamination.

“The leak has been mended. Steps have also been taken to ensure refinery operations will continue so that production will not suffer in any way,” Jayasekera said.