On the 4th of November when 3 people were injured following a gas cylinder explosion in Weligama, the south of Sri Lanka - little did the people know that this was the beginning of a much larger disaster that was to fall upon the island nation.

Another LP gas cylinder explosion was reported on the 16th of November at a private restaurant in Ratnapura, and on the 20th of November, a popular fast food outlet in Colombo 07 was completely ravaged by fire, also owing to a gas leak.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/blame-game-on-contaminated-fertiliser-continues-sri-lanka-govt-backtracks-on-greener-agriculture-move-431161">Blame game on contaminated fertiliser continues; Sri Lanka govt backtracks on greener agriculture move</a>

It was by this time that the public was brought to the startling realisation that the domestic gas cylinders they purchased might in fact be ticking time bombs waiting to explode.

Ever since the initially reported incidents, Sri Lanka has seen an unusual increase of domestic gas cylinder explosions with alarming frequency - with numerous such explosions reported daily,&nbsp;some minor casualties also reported in certain incidents.

It was in such a backdrop that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a committee to investigate the reasons for the numerous domestic gas explosions reported from many parts of the country.

Watch |&nbsp;Sri Lanka: 35 gas explosions reported within three days; President Rajapaksa orders probe

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lanka-35-gas-explosions-reported-within-three-days-president-rajapaksa-orders-probe-433675/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In the past few days, more than 15 domestic gas cylinder explosions have been reported across the country, raising concerns about the quality and standard of LP gas cylinders that need to be scrutinised closely.

State-owned gas company Litro; while denying claims that their gas is of inferior quality or is unsafe for domestic or commercial use also claimed that the recent incidents and confusion that have occurred have been caused by the use of inferior quality regulators, hoses, cookers and by user negligence.

Litro has also introduced a consumer hotline to report any issues regarding domestic LP gas or gas cylinders. In addition, it released a new set of guidelines for consumers on its official website.

The president has appointed a committee headed by Professor Shantha Walpola from the University of Moratuwa, which will submit a report within two weeks.

Sri Lanka’s opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has requested that the CID conduct a Criminal Investigation and bring the perpetrators before the law.

On the 4th of November when 3 people were injured following a gas cylinder explosion in Weligama, the south of Sri Lanka - little did the people know that this was the beginning of a much larger disaster that was to fall upon the island nation.

On the 4th of November when 3 people were injured following a gas cylinder explosion in Weligama, the south of Sri Lanka - little did the people know that this was the beginning of a much larger disaster that was to fall upon the island nation. Another LP gas cylinder explosion was reported on the 16th of November at a private restaurant in Ratnapura, and on the 20th of November, a popular fast food outlet in Colombo 07 was completely ravaged by fire, also owing to a gas leak. Also read | Blame game on contaminated fertiliser continues; Sri Lanka govt backtracks on greener agriculture move It was by this time that the public was brought to the startling realisation that the domestic gas cylinders they purchased might in fact be ticking time bombs waiting to explode. Ever since the initially reported incidents, Sri Lanka has seen an unusual increase of domestic gas cylinder explosions with alarming frequency - with numerous such explosions reported daily, some minor casualties also reported in certain incidents. It was in such a backdrop that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a committee to investigate the reasons for the numerous domestic gas explosions reported from many parts of the country. Watch | Sri Lanka: 35 gas explosions reported within three days; President Rajapaksa orders probe In the past few days, more than 15 domestic gas cylinder explosions have been reported across the country, raising concerns about the quality and standard of LP gas cylinders that need to be scrutinised closely. State-owned gas company Litro; while denying claims that their gas is of inferior quality or is unsafe for domestic or commercial use also claimed that the recent incidents and confusion that have occurred have been caused by the use of inferior quality regulators, hoses, cookers and by user negligence. Litro has also introduced a consumer hotline to report any issues regarding domestic LP gas or gas cylinders. In addition, it released a new set of guidelines for consumers on its official website. The president has appointed a committee headed by Professor Shantha Walpola from the University of Moratuwa, which will submit a report within two weeks. Sri Lanka’s opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has requested that the CID conduct a Criminal Investigation and bring the perpetrators before the law.

Mysterious LP gas explosions across Sri Lanka; President appoints committee to investigate

Russian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/vladimir-putin-a-brief-profile-of-the-russian-president-728">Vladimir Putin</a> on Monday removed the powerful Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika and nominated a replacement, the Kremlin said.

Chaika, 68, who has served as the country's top prosecutor since 2006, "has been relieved of his position due to a transfer to another position," the Kremlin said in a statement, without providing further details.

His successor is expected to be Igor Krasnov, 43, currently deputy head of the Investigative Committee, a separate state agency that probes major crimes.

The Investigative Committee has repeatedly clashed with the Prosecutor-General's Office.&nbsp;

Putin on Monday submitted Krasnov's candidacy for consideration by the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council,&nbsp;the Kremlin said.

His candidacy is expected to be approved by lawmakers.

Chaika served as justice minister between 1999 and 2006.

In 2015, the anti-corruption foundation of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny accused Chaika's two sons of illegally amassing large fortunes with the help of officials under their father's command.

Chaika dismissed the accusations.

Last week Putin proposed re-drafting the 1993 constitution, unleashing political upheaval in Russia and triggering the resignation of the government of his loyal lieutenant Dmitry Medvedev.&nbsp;

Medvedev has been replaced by former tax chief Mikhail Mishustin who is expected to propose a new government make-up this week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday removed the powerful Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika and nominated a replacement, the Kremlin said. Chaika, 68, who has served as the country's top prosecutor since 2006, "has been relieved of his position due to a transfer to another position," the Kremlin said in a statement, without providing further details.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday removed the powerful Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika and nominated a replacement, the Kremlin said. Chaika, 68, who has served as the country's top prosecutor since 2006, "has been relieved of his position due to a transfer to another position," the Kremlin said in a statement, without providing further details. His successor is expected to be Igor Krasnov, 43, currently deputy head of the Investigative Committee, a separate state agency that probes major crimes. The Investigative Committee has repeatedly clashed with the Prosecutor-General's Office. Putin on Monday submitted Krasnov's candidacy for consideration by the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, the Kremlin said. His candidacy is expected to be approved by lawmakers. Chaika served as justice minister between 1999 and 2006. In 2015, the anti-corruption foundation of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny accused Chaika's two sons of illegally amassing large fortunes with the help of officials under their father's command. Chaika dismissed the accusations. Last week Putin proposed re-drafting the 1993 constitution, unleashing political upheaval in Russia and triggering the resignation of the government of his loyal lieutenant Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev has been replaced by former tax chief Mikhail Mishustin who is expected to propose a new government make-up this week.

Vladimir Putin replaces powerful top prosecutor

The word &quot;fire&quot; is heard on the cockpit voice recorder of EgyptAir 804 before the plane crashed into the Mediterranean in May, an Egyptian-led investigative committee said on Saturday. 
 
Investigators had earlier said the other black box retrieved from the crash site, the data recorder, confirmed that smoke alarms had sounded on board, while soot on wreckage indicates a fire. 
 
&quot;The committee had... started listening to the cockpit voice recordings before the occurrence of the accident; where the existence of &#39;fire&#39; was mentioned,&quot; it said in a statement. 
 
&quot;Still it is too early to determine the reason or the place where that fire started,&quot; it said. 
 
The data recorder points to smoke signals indicating fires in the lavatory and avionics section of the plane, according to the committee.&nbsp;The data on the voice recorder had been downloaded earlier this month after it was repaired. 
 
The Airbus A320 was carrying 40 Egyptians, 15 French, two Iraqis, two Canadians and one passenger each from Algeria, Belgium, Britain, Chad, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.&nbsp;It had set off from Paris to Cairo when it disappeared from radar over the Mediterranean. 
 
Egyptian investigators have confirmed the aircraft made a 90-degree left turn followed by a 360-degree turn to the right before hitting the sea.&nbsp;The latest committee statement said the search for the remains of passengers has ended. 
 
The ship conducting the search &quot;reached the port of Alexandria today after the end of its mission, which had been extended for the second time, after making sure of the recovery of all human remains at the site of the accident&quot;, it said.&nbsp;Both Egyptian and French judiciary have opened investigations into the mysterious incident, without ruling out a terrorist attack. 
 
The crash followed the bombing of a Russian passenger plane over Egypt&#39;s restive Sinai Peninsula last October, killing all 224 passengers and crew.&nbsp;The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for that attack, but there has been no such claim linked to the EgyptAir crash. 
 
Egypt&#39;s aviation minister had initially said an attack was the more likely explanation, but President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said there was no theory being favoured yet. 
 
EgyptAir said last week that advance compensation payments of $25,000 will be offered to families of the 66 people killed in the crash.&nbsp;The payments are separate to those expected from insurance companies on behalf of various parties depending on the investigation into the disaster. 
 
(AFP)

The data recorder points to smoke signals indicating fires in the lavatory and avionics section of the plane

The word "fire" is heard on the cockpit voice recorder of EgyptAir 804 before the plane crashed into the Mediterranean in May, an Egyptian-led investigative committee said on Saturday. Investigators had earlier said the other black box retrieved from the crash site, the data recorder, confirmed that smoke alarms had sounded on board, while soot on wreckage indicates a fire. "The committee had... started listening to the cockpit voice recordings before the occurrence of the accident; where the existence of 'fire' was mentioned," it said in a statement. "Still it is too early to determine the reason or the place where that fire started," it said. The data recorder points to smoke signals indicating fires in the lavatory and avionics section of the plane, according to the committee. The data on the voice recorder had been downloaded earlier this month after it was repaired. The Airbus A320 was carrying 40 Egyptians, 15 French, two Iraqis, two Canadians and one passenger each from Algeria, Belgium, Britain, Chad, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. It had set off from Paris to Cairo when it disappeared from radar over the Mediterranean. Egyptian investigators have confirmed the aircraft made a 90-degree left turn followed by a 360-degree turn to the right before hitting the sea. The latest committee statement said the search for the remains of passengers has ended. The ship conducting the search "reached the port of Alexandria today after the end of its mission, which had been extended for the second time, after making sure of the recovery of all human remains at the site of the accident", it said. Both Egyptian and French judiciary have opened investigations into the mysterious incident, without ruling out a terrorist attack. The crash followed the bombing of a Russian passenger plane over Egypt's restive Sinai Peninsula last October, killing all 224 passengers and crew. The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for that attack, but there has been no such claim linked to the EgyptAir crash. Egypt's aviation minister had initially said an attack was the more likely explanation, but President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said there was no theory being favoured yet. EgyptAir said last week that advance compensation payments of $25,000 will be offered to families of the 66 people killed in the crash. The payments are separate to those expected from insurance companies on behalf of various parties depending on the investigation into the disaster. (AFP)

Word 'fire' heard on EgyptAir voice recorder before crash

investigative-committee

Investigative Committee, News on Investigative Committee, stories on Investigative Committee, articles on Investigative Committee, Investigative Committee stories at Wion, Investigative Committee news, Investigative Committee latest news