Gas shortage shuts canteens, bakeries countrywide

 Members of Women For Rights yesterday staged a protest in front of the Consumer Affairs Authority, calling to protect consumers from substandard LP gas – Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

• State-run canteens in hospitals, schools, organisations to be impacted
• Over one million people engaged in the trade affected 
• Canteen and bakery associations blame Govt. for economic mismanagement, burden on consumers
• Say soaring price of vegetables, sugar, flour, oil, poultry ‘unimaginable’

The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) issue has gotten worse amidst its daily accidents to another level, where 80% of canteens and hotels, as well as 50% of bakeries, are coming to a close from today due to the shortage. 

The situation amplified as the two main LPG companies — Litro Gas Ltd. and Laugfs Gas PLC are faced with multiple legal consequences for changing the composition of their products which led to a spate of fires and explosions countrywide, and with the Government intervening to regulate the industry after decades. 

“From today over 80% of the State-run canteens, particularly the ones in hospitals, schools and Government organisations, will be closed due to the LPG shortage,” All Island Canteen Owners’ Association (AICOA) President Asela Sampath told the Daily FT.

He said the closure of the canteens and hotels will greatly impact the innocent people that come to those for a meal or to have tea at a concessionary price. 

“Most of the customers that come to our canteens are ambulance drivers, patients coming to monthly clinics, people looking after patients, drivers of Government organisations, labourers and janitors. The closure of the canteens will directly impact all low-income earners in our society,” he added. 

Sampath said none of the small hotels are now making hoppers as it requires a lot of gas and the danger of LPG-related explosions and fires still remains. 

AICOA has over 3,000 members representing 25,000 canteens and hotels countrywide, while 500,000 people are directly and indirectly engaged in the industry.

“Over 50% of its members have also closed bakeries around the country due to the unavailability of LPG,” All Ceylon Bakery Association of Sri Lanka (ACBAO) Chairman N. K. Jayawardena told the Daily FT.

“One of the gas companies told us that they only have gas for crematoriums and for main hospitals,” he said.

Jayawardena said over 3,000 bakeries have been closed from the total 7,000 bakeries at present due to the hardships they had to face in the post-pandemic situation. 

“The closure of business impacts over 500,000 people engaged directly and indirectly in the bakery sector,” he expressed in a negative tone. 

Although the duty of the Government is to manage the economy and act against institutions and industries that have continued to burden the consumers for long years, both associations claimed that the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has been dragging its feet on this matter.

“When people protest against matters affecting them, the authorities are quick to arrest, but sadly that urgency is not seen in the gas fiasco,” both associations claimed.

They also pointed out that at a time when people are reeling under the cost of living and battered by the impacts of COVID pandemic, every increase in the additional budget of a household becomes intolerable. 

Both Sampath and Jayawardena also said the rising cost of vegetables, poultry, sugar, flour, and oil is unimaginable, noting it was another key reason for the closure of the canteens, hotels and bakeries.

Despite multiple attempts to get connected with the Trade Minister and Consumer Protection State Minister, both were unavailable for comment.