Litro yet to withdraw "misleading" gas cylinders

COLOMBO (News1st): Litro Gas Lanka has proposed to retain 50 percent of its new product which the Consumer Affairs Authority had instructed to recall from the market. The Consumer Affairs Authority had informed Litro Gas Lanka Ltd to withdraw its latest 18 kilogram cylinder from the market citing that it misleads the consumer. Accordingly, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. and the Consumer Affairs Authority had held a discussion on the matter today. Litro Gas Lanka has regularly sold 12.5 kilogram cylinders with a quantity of 25 litres. But the latest product sold at Rs 1395 reduces the quantity to 18 litres in the same 12.5 kilogram cylinder. The weight of the cylinder in the new product had been erased, indicating that the new product is nothing other than the old 12.5 kilogram cylinder with the reduced quantity of gas. Section 10 (4) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act states that any person who tampers with the label of a product shall be guilty of an offence. Litro Gas Lanka Ltd., has advertised its product stating that the new cylinder contains a high capacity. However, this is a false claim as the weight has been reduced in the new cylinder. Section 31 of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act states that falsely representing goods that are new is also an offence under the law. Accordingly, the Consumer Affairs Authority can initiate legal action against Litro Gas Lanka Ltd.