By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Sri Lanka has ordered widespread reductions in electricity usage, including switching off street lights and illuminated billboards, as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to disrupt global energy supplies.
The measures, which took effect on Tuesday, are part of a government plan to cut national energy consumption by at least 25 percent amid rising fuel costs and supply shortages.
Government spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said all state institutions have been directed to scale down electricity usage, including limiting air conditioning, as the war enters its fourth week and continues to drive up global oil and gas prices.
“We need to reduce consumption by at least 25 percent,” Jayatissa told reporters in the capital, Colombo, adding that the private sector is also expected to comply with the new guidelines.
Under the measures, advertising lights must be switched off after 9:00 pm, while street lighting will be cut except in high-security areas.
The crisis follows disruptions to global energy flows after military escalation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which has affected key shipping routes and pushed up fuel prices worldwide.
Sri Lanka has already increased domestic fuel prices by about one-third since the conflict began, placing additional strain on households and businesses.
To further reduce energy demand, authorities have introduced a four-day work week and reinstated work-from-home arrangements to ease pressure on transportation and fuel consumption.
An official from the energy ministry warned that the country risks nationwide power outages if consumption is not significantly reduced. Peak electricity demand is currently being met using coal and diesel, both of which have become more expensive and harder to secure.
Last week, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged electric vehicle owners to avoid overnight charging, noting that a surge in demand estimated at 300 megawatts, has forced the country to rely more heavily on fossil fuels to stabilize the power grid.
About half of Sri Lanka’s electricity is generated from coal and diesel, while renewable energy, though abundant during the day, remains underutilized due to the lack of battery storage infrastructure.
