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The ongoing power cut has been extended to a maximum of eight hours with effect from today (15) in two shifts, The Ceylon Electricity Board announced yesterday.

The country has been divided into three sectors and the duration of power cut will be varied from six-and-a-half hours to eight hours rotating on a daily basis, the CEB said in a press release last night.

The release further said;

"The rainfall shortage in the catchment areas has worsened since extended power cuts were introduce on 30/08/2001. In fact, the total inflow to the hydro reservoirs during the past 14 days is 34 GWh. This is the lowest inflow that has been recorded during the month of September. The storage position today is 16% of full capacity; it was 22% when CEB started to extend the power cuts. The low storage level has resulted in further reductions of the generating system's ability to meet the demand, requiring further power curtaliments. Accordingly, CEB has been compelled to restrict the power supply hours as follows."

"The country is divided into 03 Groups as A - B - C. Power to each Group will be shed at times shown below.

Time(Hrs.) Period Group 1700 - 2030 3.5 hrs. A 1830 - 2230 4.0 hrs. B 2030 - 2400 3.5 hrs. C 0000 - 0430 4.5 hrs. A 0430 - 0730 3.0 hrs. B&C

"The load shedding schedule will be rotated daily and will commence from Saturday the 15th September at 5.00 p.m."

"The CEB appeals to its consumers to use their private generators and to conserve as much energy as possible."

Meanwhile, there were signs of showers in the hydroreservoir areas in Kotmale last evening, CEB officials in the Kotmale power station told the Daily News last night.

The employees of the CEB headquesters in Colombo and regional offices yesterday started religious rituals soliciting showers. These rituals were continued last evening by reciting 'Vesi Pirita' for half an hour.

CEB Chairman K.L. Ariyananda and General Manager D.C. Wijeratna initiated these religious rituals at Sambuddhaloka Vihara under the patronage of the Chief Incumbant of the Sambuddhaloka Viharaya Ven. Ittademaliye Indasara thera.

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