by Dilanthi Jayamanne
The one hour power cut will continue till January 13, with effect from yesterday the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) announced.

CEB sources said that though there was speculation of an extended power cut from today, the board decided to review the situation in two weeks and see the water levels in the catchment areas.

The total storage capacity in the hydro catchment areas yesterday was 29.7%. "Which is not very bad," sources of the Ministry of Power and Energy said. Randenigala reported a rainfall of 23.0 mm on Sunday which was the highest amount experienced in the hydro catchment areas. The highest storage capacity of 45.7% was reported from Castlereigh.

Ministerial sources said that the consumers were constantly reminded by the Minister of Power and Energy, Karu Jayasuriya and the CEB to reduce unnecessary lighting. The Minister appealed to the public recently to conserve electricity as much as possible and use generators to illuminate name boards and shop windows.

Meanwhile the public expressed disgust at the continuing power cuts. "How long do the people have to suffer," said one woman at the Kadawatha fair.

"People are fed up with the situation even though the power cut is only for one hour at present. But the possibilities of the CEB increasing the number of hours scares them," Piyasena a three wheel driver from Kadawatha lamented.

"There is no point in blaming the previous government now. We voted the present government into power because we were tired of the previous regime. We thought that all our problems will end including the power cuts," Samantha, a vegetable vendor said.