Low quality CFLs to be banned

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Power and Energy Ministry has banned the selling of low quality Compact Florescent Lights (CFL) with effect from this month.

A high level meeting and a workshop to create awareness among local CFL bulb importers and bulb producers on the ban, was held in Colombo last September in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Standard Institution and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

Accordingly, the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) has already started registering CFL bulb importers to ensure the quality of bulbs they import.

Under the new laws, a star is clearly reflected on all high quality CFL bulbs and it mentions that such bulbs increases the energy efficiency.

It is reported that out of 4.2 million electricity users in the country, over 40 percent still use low quality CFL bulbs at the homes and business establishments without knowing the negative impact on such bulbs.

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka told the Sunday Observer that the selling low quality CFL bulbs will be banned in par with the National Energy Conservation Program (NECP).

He said a large number of such low quality CFL bulbs are currently sold at temporary outlets and they would not save the electricity as expected.

Meanwhile a senior CEB official said that the Power and Energy Ministry is also expected to distribute high quality CFL bulbs to electricity users at a reduced prices through countrywide CEB offices and the cost of the bulbs will be deducted in instalments from the monthly bills of consumers.