The Commissioner General of Essential Services, B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi has issued a new set of guidelines to ensure the sparing use of fuel and electricity, citing possible disruptions to fuel imports due to the ongoing war situation in the Middle East.

The guidelines, released on Monday (23) to all Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries, District Secretaries, and heads of statutory institutions, outline measures for staff transport, fuel management, and energy conservation in government offices.

Officials have been instructed to use public transport or carpooling instead of individual vehicles when reporting for duty, and to prepare daily transport plans that minimize the number of vehicles used for fieldwork. 

Heads of institutions have also been directed to arrange online work methods, such as Zoom or Google Meet, where technical facilities exist, to reduce unnecessary travel.

On electricity conservation, the guidelines call for maximizing natural light, using fans instead of air conditioning where possible, minimizing the use of lifts, and promoting staircases. 

Street lamps controlled by local authorities should be switched off when unnecessary, while lights on roads outside high‑security zones should be temporarily turned off. 

Advertising screens and televisions in institutions are to be deactivated during daytime, and offices should remain closed after working hours and on weekends except in essential circumstances.

Commissioner General of Essential Services B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi stated that, in the face of the prevailing global situation, all state officials must act as examples to the public for national energy security. (Newswire)

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have held discussions regarding a sustainable long-term strategy for Sri Lanka’s energy sector.

The discussion, which also focused on energy conservation, took place at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (05 Mar).

The President’s attention was drawn to the maintenance of uninterrupted power supply and the current and the future prospects of Sri Lanka’s energy sector.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Power Kumara Jayakody, Secretary to the Ministry of Power, Prof. K.T.M. Udayanga Hemapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Mahinda Siriwardana, Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board, Dr. Thilak Siyambalapitiya, and a group of CEB officials. (Newswire)

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A Gazette notification has been issued declaring Electricity and Petroleum as essential services.

The Gazette signed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe was issued dated 05 August 2024.

As per the Gazette, all services connected to the supply of electricity and the supply or distribution of petroleum products and fuel have been declared essential public services. (Newswire)

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A high-level delegation of Thai officials and private sector representatives met at the Ministry of Power & Energy in Sri Lanka to explore renewable energy cooperation, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Officials from various Thai agencies and the private sector, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Royal Thai Embassy, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), PTT Public Company Limited, and Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited, convened a meeting on Monday at the Ministry of Power & Energy in Sri Lanka, Minister Wijesekera said on ‘X’.

Acting on instructions from the Prime Minister of Thailand, the delegation is in Sri Lanka to assess the feasibility and potential for future cooperation and investment in renewable energy, particularly focusing on electricity generation, the Minister said.

During the meeting, discussions centered around policies and plans for the electricity sector, multilateral interconnections, proposed sector reforms, necessary investments in renewable energy, the potential of green hydrogen, and avenues for energy cooperation between the two countries. (Newswire)

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The highest energy demand in Sri Lanka in recent times was recorded yesterday (19), Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera revealed.

The minister said in a Twitter message today (20), that a net generation of 49.53 GWh was required for power generation on Wednesday. 

He further stated that actual demand recorded early this morning (20) forecasts an estimated energy demand exceeding 50 GWh for today. 

Minister Wijesekera assured that all Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Thermal plants, including the recently established Hambantota Diesel Powered generators, will be utilized for power generation. (NewsWire)

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued directives to the Minister of Power and Energy and relevant officials of the power sector pertaining to providing power supply. 

According to the PMD, the President has instructed the officials to ensure an uninterrupted power supply for electricity consumers.

He has also instructed the officials to provide concessions for low-income families and provide solar rooftop systems for religious places & government educational institutions.

The President has stated that the matters must be addressed once the electricity tariff revision by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) is implemented.

The PUCSL is reported to have consented to a 66% electricity tariff hike with effect from Wednesday, 15th February 2023.

The move has been taken in a bit to enable an additional income of Rs. 287 billion for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). (NewsWire)

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The Court of Appeal has refused a petition filed by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) pertaining to the supply of uninterrupted electricity.

The petition had been filed by the PUCSL requesting the court to issue a writ order to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to provide an uninterrupted power supply during the ongoing GCE Advanced Level examinations.

However, the Court of Appeal refused the petition filed by the PUCSL without consideration, when it was called up for hearing today (10). 

The PUCSL has been urging the CEB to provide an uninterrupted power supply until the conclusion of the examinations on 17th February 2023.

An agreement had also been reached during a discussion with several stakeholders of the power industry including the PUCSL and CEB at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to provide an uninterrupted power supply.

The CEB, however, continued with its daily scheduled power cuts a few days later claiming it was unable to provide an uninterrupted power supply under the current circumstances. (NewsWire) 

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