Sri Lanka to go low on electricity from March, power schedule times likely to be given

• At present power plants are running on a very thin line with fuel supplied on a very limited basis. This has led to water being currently stored in reservoirs to generate hydro power, to be used up leading to a massive crisis by March if there are no rains.
• The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has already advised the public to use tap water sparingly with water levels in the reservoirs declining
• If fuel is not supplied on time, then a massive crisis is likely to surface in two months, also leading to a food crisis as water for irrigation would run out

With the country running on a very thin power supply with the shortage of fuel created by the forex crisis, sources at the Ceylon Electricity Board said they will be compelled to issue the power supply times to the general public from March, similar to some African countries, if the crisis is not sorted soon.

Presently power plants are running on a very thin line with fuel supplied on a very limited basis. This has led to water being currently stored in reservoirs to generate hydro power, to be used up leading to a massive crisis by March if there are no rains.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has already advised the public to use tap water sparingly with water levels in the reservoirs declining. However if the present trend continues and if fuel is not supplied on time, then a massive crisis is likely to surface in two months, also leading to a food crisis as water for irrigation would run out.

The government has assured it is attempting to resolve the existing power crisis by being able to purchase fuel stocks on time, but sources within the CEB said that with the power generation running on a thin line for weeks, they were doubtful if the matter could be resolved anytime soon.

By March, the CEB is gearing up for releasing power supply schedules which will result in millions of losses to the country and people depending on electricity only for limited hours, sources said. (JAMILA HUSAIN)