• Hydropower generation has dropped drastically due to the prevailing drought

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has instructed all Local Government heads in the country to switch off all the street lamps in their respective Local Government areas until March 31 so as to conserve electricity.

The Finance Minister, in a letter, has also directed the Local government heads to implement any alternative plans to conserve electricity with minimum impact on the daily activities of the people.

He said diesel plants have to be used for power generation as hydropower generation has dropped drastically due to the prevailing drought.