Uninterrupted power during Avurudhu period

Give priority to environment - CEA:

Disna MUDALIGE

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited (LECO) have assured the public that there won’t be power interruptions during the New Year festive season. A few JVP and UNP affiliated trade union members of the Joint Trade Union Federation of the CEB have decided to go on sick leave from today demanding a salary hike.

The CEB administration pointed out that the majority

of employees would not join this move, aimed at inconveniencing the public to achieve petty political gain. The Power and Energy Ministry assured that there will be no power failures inconveniencing the public due to trade union action.

The ministry requested the public to inform the regional CEB or LECO branches of any power failures adding that an interruption to power supply would only occur due to natural causes such as heavy rains or strong winds.

Ministry sources stressed electricity generation, transmission and distribution at power plants are proceeding smoothly islandwide and emergency units would operate as usual to attend to any breakdown in the power supply.

The hotlines 1987 for CEB consumers and 1910 for LECO consumers are available for public complaints.

The public can also seek ministry help through hotline 1901.

Meanwhile, Central Environmental Authority (CEA) chairman Charitha Herath requested the public to celebrate the New Year giving priority to the environment by making it an opportunity to strengthen their bond with the nature as practiced by the ancestors.

He requested the people to start work for the New Year at the auspicious time by planting a sapling in their gardens or workplaces.

Herath observed that engaging in the first ritual transaction with the well shows our respect for water resources which give clean drinking water.

He also noted that the use of various leaves and herbal extracts in oil anointing ceremony is another feature which shows Sri Lankans close link with the environment.

Herath said the CEA has undertaken a tremendous task to ensure sustainable development to minimise the harm to environment.