Colombo: Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi has called on local authorities to adopt a proper mechanism, in coordination with the Police, when switching off street lights between 6.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. as part of energy conservation efforts. He made these remarks at the Cabinet decisions media briefing held at the Government Information Department. He emphasized that street lights should not be turned off in areas with high crime rates or accident-prone zones, and such decisions must be taken after consulting the Police.

According to News.LK, the Commissioner General noted that the Colombo Municipal Council currently maintains around 12,000 street lights, of which about 2,000 have already been switched off. He also stated that instructions have been issued to deactivate air conditioning systems in government institutions after 3.00 p.m., while a similar request has been made to the private sector.

Furthermore, the public has been urged to avoid using electricity from the nat
ional grid for outdoor night-time events and to use alternative energy sources instead.