President appoints committee to probe gas related explosions

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed an eight-member committee to look into recent incidents of LP Gas related explosions and recommend solutions. 

The committee will be chaired by Prof. Shantha Walpola of the Moratuwa University, the President's Media Unit (PMD) stated. The other members of this committee are Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, Prof. Ajith De Alwis of the Moratuwa University, Prof. W.D.W. Jayathilaka of the Sri Jayewardenapura University, Prof. Pradeep Jayaweera, Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission Prof. Narayan Sirimuthu, Additional Director General of the Industrial Technology Institute Dr. Sudarshana Somasiri and Senior Deputy Director of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute Sujeewa Mahagama. 

The committee is tasked with investigating the reasons behind the recent fires and explosions concerning LP Gas cylinders reported in recent days from households, trade and retail centres in various parts of the country, and to submit solutions that can be taken speedily on this matter to the President. 

The committee has been directed to obtain views and studies conducted on the matter from all stakeholders and submit a detailed report in two weeks, the PMD added.