Gammanpila Energy Minister proposes a series of steps to offset the imminent energy crisis

  Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila has made a series of proposals to offset the present energy crisis faced by the country. He has pointed out that it would be prudent to limit the number of school days per week to four and teach the children using zoom technology on the fifth day to save energy. He has also proposed that office times be adjusted to minimize traffic congestion on the roads. Minister Gammanpila has also emphasized the importance of introducing a price formula to offset the fluctuating oil prices in the global market. He has further proposed that all government institutions may use technological skills via zoom technology for meetings, which would reduce time-consuming exercises where officials have to travel to Colombo from outstation destinations. Another step proposed by the Minister is to encourage local industrialists to use renewable energy in their factories, considerably reducing the strain on the main grid supply. Referring to foreign remittances,  he has said it was important for the Central Bank to obtain at least a third of such foreign remittances to import essential goods such as medicine etc. He has pointed out that though the fuel prices have considerably increased, the demand for the fuel has also been rising, steadily since people have been using private transport for holiday revelling and to visit relatives. He has further said that the Corona pandemic had prompted the people to use more private vehicles to get about, which has virtually triggered a hike in fuel consumption.