The
electric plug in use in Sri Lanka for a long period of time was of a round or
circular shaped one. However in line with the announcement made by the Public
Utilities Commission the plug has been turned into a square shape here onwards.
As
most electricity products imported to Sri Lanka
are from countries
such as China, Taiwan and Malaysia are of a square shape type, the product did
not afford safety precautions as they did not possess socket equipment for
facility purposes and were installed in that manner in houses for quite
sometime. As such, electric plugs fixed as 5 Amp. would assume 13 Amps
and householders need only change the plug base installed on the wall. The
internal wire need not be changed.
Whatever
it is, as a result of this change there would be no problems with regard to the
wiring aspect of of houses already built and finished. After the new standard
has been introduced, the Commission therefore the urges the public to inspect
whether there is a 13 Amp. available when purchasing electric equipment. In
respect of this change, a transition period has been introduced by the
Commission. Under these conditions the new standard effected would go into
effect from 16th August, 2016. However, imports of the previous type of
equipment is permitted. But various types of imports of electric plugs and
sockets not belonging to the new category after 16th August, 2017 and which do
not come under regulations of the national standard would be banned. Later, all
electric equipment comprising electric plugs which do not belong to the new
group would be subjected to ban from 16th August, 2018. Director General of the
Commission Mr. Damith Kumarasingha had said that this standard has been
introduced in order to minimise accidents caused to consumers because of the
use of electricity. He also adds that in electric plugs and sockets installed
in houses and buildings erected in future would prove of importance according
to this new standard.