The government supplies 24 hours of uninterrupted electricity to the people whereas other countries in Asia have to endure hours a day without power while factories are closed down for days, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka stated.

The Minister spoke at a programme called “Heta wenuwen ada” aimed at educating the public on the benefits of saving energy. The programme targeted government and private workers as well as schools children, the Ministry stated.

He stated that saving energy was an investment for the future and that the power to reduce the cost of electricity was in the hands of the public.

Minister Ranawaka added that in the past Sri Lanka was generating 100% of its power requirements through hydro power plants whereas now around 75%-80% is produced through fuel which means that when global fuel prices increase so does the cost for electricity.

He added that programmes such as these were important in educating the people and creating awareness as well as limiting the amount of wastage.

The Minister said that oil resources will deplete in 40 years, gas resources in 60 years and coal in 80 years while stating that the future generations will have problems with energy generation.

He said that in Tamil Nadu, factories are closed for two days of the week, in Chennai there are 8-16 hour power cuts and the situation is the same in Japan.

Minister Ranawaka claimed that the public could do their part if they were careful with the amount of electricity that was consumed between the hours of 6.30pm to 9.30pm.