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Litro’s new line is deceptive, alleges NMCRP

22 Apr 2021

  • Claims new product flouts price controls

  • ‘Premium Hybrid’ offers higher quality, says Litro

  The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection (NMCRP) yesterday (21) levelled allegations against Litro Gas Ltd. of arbitrarily increasing the price of a gas cylinder by introducing a new product named as “Premium Hybrid” and thereby deceiving consumers. NMCRP Chairman Ranjith Vithanage stated that as the attempts by local gas suppliers to increase the local prices of a gas cylinder proved futile, with the Government vehemently objecting the request, Litro has recently rolled out the “Premium Hybrid” product with 18 litres of gas priced at Rs. 1,395. He added that this is when the maximum retail price of a 12.5 kg (24.5 litres) gas cylinder is priced at Rs. 1,493 in the Western Province. Vithanage further noted that the pricing of the “Premium Hybrid” product is not in compliance with the ceiling price set by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA). However, speaking to The Morning Business, Litro Gas Brand Manager Varaveswaran Ketheeswaran, while confirming the rollout of the new product and its price, stated that the new product is of superior quality. “You cannot compare this gas with (those in) kilogrammes. Due to the quality of this product, we couldn’t get the net weight in kilogrammes, which is why we converted it to litres,” Ketheeswaran explained. When questioned about the price difference compared to other gas cylinders available in the market, Ketheeswaran stated that the price is more expensive, “purely based on the high quality of this product”. The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) suppliers have been demanding a price hike of Rs. 655 in the face of rising crude oil prices in the global market. Nevertheless, the Government remains adamant in maintaining the prices at their current levels. In 2021, the world market LPG prices escalated, setting propane and butane at $ 625 and $ 595 a metric tonne (MT), respectively. Despite escalating global prices, local LPG suppliers have maintained stable prices for the past year.


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