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Along with the 29 June price slash of the 12.5 Kg cylinder of gas, prices of 5 Kg and 2.3 Kg cylinders too have been reduced accordingly.
Therefore the price of a 5 Kg LPG domestic gas cylinder has been reduced by Rs. 55 and price of a 2.3 Kg cylinder has been reduced by Rs. 25, effective 29 June.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen has instructed his Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) on 2 July to raid errant retailers who violate the new price structure. The CAA commenced monitoring the retailor for violations from 30 June.
“The Government is working to lower the cost of living. We warn all retailers to pass these LPG gas savings to consumers immediately. CAA will not spare any violators. Consumers can contact CAA hotlines to inform about violations,” said Bathiudeen during a meeting with his officials. Any guilty violators can be fined or imprisoned under Section 60 of Act No. 9 of 2003. If the violator is not a company/firm but a person then the fine is between Rs. 5,000-50,000 or one year imprisonment in the first offence, and any subsequent offence (by the person) Rs. 10,000-100,000 fine or a maximum of two-year imprisonment or both punishments.
If the violator is a company/firm and NOT a person then in the first instance of violation/offence, a fine of Rs. 50,000-1,000,000 or a maximum of two year imprisonment, and any subsequent offence a fine of Rs. 100,000-2,000,000.
Consumer complaint hotlines of CAA are 0117755481-3 and 1977.
On the afternoon of 29 June, the Consumer Affairs Authority sent two Determination Letters to the LPG cooking gas companies concerned. This Determination follows the order to this effect made by the Cost of Living Committee on 26 June.