(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Minister of Agriculture P Harrison said the LP gas companies had assured that they could supply gas without any shortage from this week.
The Minister said that the shortage of LP gas has been attributed to high demand due to low price of gas, conflicts in Saudi Arabia and adverse weather conditions that hindered the shipping.
However, the Minister said that the stock of gas needed for the Christmas and New Year season is also coming to Sri Lanka.
The Minister was addressing the media after attending the Cost of Living Committee meeting held at the Ministry of Finance today.
State-owned Litro Gas said it is working to increase the number of gas cylinders released to the market daily for domestic use from 75,000 to 100,000 to end the gas shortage. In response to the gas shortage, Litro has made an urgent purchase of 12,000 metric tons of gas.
The Director of Marketing of Litro Gas Janaka Pathiratne said 15,000 metric tons of LP gas is expected to reach the island within the next few days.
Meanwhile, the private distributor, LAUGFS Gas Company said that it is planning to end the shortage of gas by increasing its daily gas output by 35%.
LAUGFS CEO Chaminda Ediriwickrema stated that they are planning to maintain about 27,000 tonnes of gas in the future in order to prevent a shortfall.
Meanwhile, a vessel carrying 3600 metric tons of gas purchased under emergency procurement is scheduled to arrive at the Colombo port today (05).
The Ministry of Finance said that a vessel carrying another 3600 metric tons of gas arrived at the Colombo port on last Saturday.
