Electrocutions reduced in the country: Chairman of PUCSL

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Saliya Mathew, says that the ‘Electrocution Mitigation Programme’ carried out by the PUCSL has been a big success and as a result the number of electrocutions island-wide has been reduced to 89 in 2018 from 180 in the year 2012.

The PUCSL, the electricity industry regulator held the Electrical Safety Day -2018 at the BMICH with an objective of reducing the electrical accidents by establishing an electrically safe environment in every household.

More than 500 participants including school children, industrialists and officials participated for the programme held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.

More than 20 regulatory tools have been prepared and introduced in relation to the safe use of electricity

Over 200 school children were awarded for their efforts in the Islandwide school drawing competition under the theme of electrical safety which was conducted by the PUCSL throughout the last year with the ambition of making the children aware on the importance of safe use of electricity.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Mathew noted that it was the responsibility of the PUCSL to take measures to prevent the possibilities of the lives and properties get damaged due to unsafe use of electricity. Accordingly, more than 20 regulatory tools have been prepared and introduced in relation to the safe use of electricity. As a result of the Electrocution Mitigation Programme carried out by the PUCSL, the number of electrocutions island-wide reduced to 89 in last year from 180 in the year 2012. “We must bear in mind the fact that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electricity Company Private Limited (LECO) have fulfilled the responsibilities as licensees in achieving this progress in relation to electrical safety and also thank the Sri Lanka Police for providing excellent support.” he stressed. The PUCSL plans to introduce more regulatory tools and frameworks in the year 2019 to uplift the standards of the electricity industry in order to ensure an electrically safe environment for lives and properties and also plans to continue the awareness programmes in order to strengthen the public with knowledge of electrical safety, Mr. Mathew said.