(UTV | COLOMBO) – J.J Rathnasiri has issued a special circular to the heads of state institutions with strict guidelines pertaining to the use of electricity and fuel.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government, J.J Rathnasiri has issued a special circular to the heads of state institutions with strict guidelines pertaining to the use of electricity and fuel at state institutions in the face of the prevalent fuel and power crisis.
The circular proposed suspending supply of fuel in excess of the amount currently allocated to official vehicles of Ministers, Parliamentarians, and state officials.
The circular instructed heads of institutions to limit inviting officials who use state vehicles for special conferences and discussions scheduled to be held in Colombo and to only invite such officials when absolutely necessary and to utilize the entire day for several meetings.
The Secretary proposed conducting such events and discussions via Zoom in future, whenever possible.
Rathnasiri also proposed state officials to travel in groups rather than separate vehicles in the event they are travelling to Colombo for essential duties.
The circular further instructed selected filling stations to maintain fuel reserves to be used for health, security and essential public services and for the stocks to be distributed under the supervision of the relevant Divisional Secretary and Police.
Meanwhile, the circular calls on state institutions to turn off air conditioning systems for two hours from 2:30pm to 4:30pm and to use fans instead of air conditioning systems whenever possible.
It was also proposed to keep office premises closed after scheduled office hours and to keep offices closed during weekends except for in any events that are urgent or cannot be postponed.
Secretary Rathnasiri also called for the reduced use of elevators and to use the stairs whenever possible and to turn off non-essential lights.
Through the circular, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Services also requested local government bodies to turn off streetlights in areas when they are not required and to temporarily turn off lights on all roads except those in high security and security zones.