Amid growing public concern over empty gas cylinders and long queues at retail outlets, the Sri Lankan government and state‑owned supplier Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. have disputed claims of a nationwide gas shortage, saying that current challenges are due to temporary supply and distribution issues rather than an actual shortfall.
Government Statement: ‘No National Gas Shortage’
Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe told Parliament that there is no genuine national LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) shortage. According to the Minister:
- Supply issues stem largely from intermittent disruptions in deliveries by private supplier LAUGFS Gas PLC, especially its yellow cylinder product line.
- The result has been increased demand for Litro’s blue cylinder stock, which temporarily strained distribution.
- To address this, the daily supply from Litro has been boosted from about 1,200 to around 1,500 metric tons per day to balance demand.
- Current reserves are deemed sufficient for at least three days, and additional shipments are expected soon — including two shipments scheduled for Sunday and Tuesday.
Minister Samarasinghe stressed that the disruptions are logistical, linked to gaps in private supply chains, rather than an overall shortage. He warned that companies failing to uphold consistent supply could face regulatory action or consumer compensation requirements.
Supplier (Litro Gas) Response
Separately, Litro Gas Lanka issued a statement assuring the public that adequate LPG stocks have been secured and that steps are underway to restore normal distribution levels.
- The company reported that it released 284,000 domestic refill cylinders into the market on 17–18 February to ease short‑term pressure.
- A further 351,000 cylinders were scheduled for distribution up through Saturday to help stabilise availability.
- Litro also confirmed that three LPG shipments totalling 10,500 metric tons are expected to arrive within the next eight days to further support supply.
The company urged households not to panic buy, explaining that temporary imbalances often arise when demand spikes unexpectedly and supply chain adjustments take time.
Root Causes and Market Dynamics
Analysts and officials point out that supply pressure was intensified not because of a lack of LPG imports, but because:
- LAUGFS Gas has faced operational limitations, including regulatory constraints at the Hambantota terminal, which delayed supply flows.
- These disruptions have caused consumers who normally buy LAUGFS cylinders to turn to Litro’s products instead, increasing immediate demand.
The government claims that once additional shipments arrive and distribution routines stabilise, market conditions will return to normal in the coming days.
