Colombo, March 28 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lanka’s Power and Energy Ministry, on Thursday urged all state and private institutions to use electricity sparingly until the island’s electricity generation returns to normal.
Launching a national action plan to use electricity sparingly, the Ministry urged all institutions and households to use electricity sparingly for the coming three months in order to reduce the island wide electricity consumption by at least 10 percent. Places of religious worship, schools and commercial institutions were also urged to follow the program.
Power and Energy Minister, Ravi Karunanayake said that immediate steps were being taken to reduce the electricity consumption due to the present adverse dry weather conditions.
The Ministry, earlier this week imposed daily power cuts throughout the island which lasts for four hours during the day and one hour during the night.
The power cuts have severely hampered day to day businesses of restaurants, small time vendors and food outlets.
The Ceylon Electricity Board said the power cuts were a result of the dry weather which had resulted in the water levels drastically reducing in all major reservoirs.
Sri Lanka, last Friday successfully tested artificial rains above the Maussakelle Reservoir, in the Central Province to create rains in the drought struck areas but had to temporarily suspend the project due to the lack of moisture in the clouds.
Meanwhile, the Meteorology Department warned that extreme levels of heat would continue to prevail in several district of the island in the coming weeks due to rising temperatures.
The department, in a statement, cautioned the public to take appropriate precautions to avoid any health-related issues caused by the severe heat condition.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has also announced water cuts in the coming weeks due to the lack of rains.
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