Finance Minister requests to turn off street lights

Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa has requested all SLPP heads of local government bodies to switch off the street lights of their respective areas until March 31, as a measure to conserve electricity.

General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Sagara Kariyawasam said that the Finance Minister has informed all the SLPP heads of LG institutions, group leaders and opposition leaders of this matter via a letter. 

The letter states that due to the prevailing challenging situation with regard to the existing power crisis due to the drop in hydro power generation, rising fuel prices and the dollar shortage, one of the main alternatives to manage this situation is to use electricity sparingly on a priority basis. 

In order to help bring that example to the society, they are requested to switch off the street lights in their respective areas from today until March 31 to conserve electricity. 

In addition to this, they are also requested to implement any other alternatives to conserve electricity, if available, with minimum impact on day to day life of the general public.  

Basil Rajapaksa letter to SLPP heads of LG bodies by Ada Derana on Scribd