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Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila
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Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila yesterday submitted a proposal to the Government aimed at preserving energy amidst the country’s escalating power crisis.
As per his proposal, he suggests 1) to hold all Government meetings, conferences, discussion online without physically calling officers, 2) to introduce different working hours to reduce traffic, 3) to reintroduce the price formula for fuel, 4) to limit vehicles coming to Colombo, 5) to minimise calling regional officers to the capital city, 6) hold only one day of online school sessions, and 7) the Central Bank to disburse one third of the foreign exchange generated via commercial banks for State organisations, to import medicines and essential goods.
Despite the last fuel price hike, Gammanpila pointed out that the demand for it had not reduced and that this was evident with the recently released numbers by the Highways Ministry on expressway alone.
“There is a sharp rise in commuters despite the upward price revision. Given the national crisis, the general public will all have to reduce unnecessary trips of holiday making, attending parties and meeting relatives in distant parts of the country,” the Minister said.
However, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Joint Trade Union Alliance Convener Ranjan Jayalal described the proposal by the Minister as unfair, labelling them temporary solutions to mum the common man.
“These plaster-solutions are not sustainable. They are just giving temporary statements to console the distressed consumers but then enjoy all the luxury at the expense of the innocent people,” he charged. “The GCE Advanced Level examinations are just a few weeks away and it is the responsibility of the Government to provide uninterrupted power to ensure students prepare well for it.”
Separately, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Chairman Janaka Ratnayake also made a few recommendations on how preserve the country’s limited energy.
Accordingly, he proposes 1) to switch-off air conditions for two hours at commercial buildings and three hours at residential premises, 2) to adjust air condition temperature to 26 degrees Celsius to save energy, 3) calls on people who have generators at their residence to use them for two hours during the day and night, to minimise the burden on the national grid, 4) to reduce using night-time bulbs unnecessarily (gardens), and 5) to limit the use of street lights to between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m (as suggested by the Power Minister).
Insisting that self-discipline is key to overcoming the national crisis, Ratnayake said the Commission intends to send their recommendations to the necessary institutions within the week.
