The government is prepared for an initial study on establishing the necessary infrastructure for an electric train service in Sri Lanka, said Power & Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

While speaking at a conference in Colombo, the Minister said government has planned this as a power saving measure.

Centres for speedy re-charging facilities for electric vehicles

The Minister further added that the government has planned for more speedy re-charging centres to encourage the import of more electric vehicles into the country.

Though electrically powered vehicles are gaining more popularity world-wide, they are not so popular in Sri Lanka due to the lack of re-charging facilities.

Even through its interim budget the government took steps to reduce the duty on imports of electric vehicles.

Pricing formulae for fuel and electricity

The Minister further added that in the near future steps would be taken through correct variables based on indicators to prepare a pricing formula for fuel and electricity.

This would enable the government to introduce a more transparent charging system to the consumers, the Minister told the conference.

While fuel and electricity have become services used for political gains in Sri Lanka, governments have continued to provide fuel at lower prices to please the masses even when prices increase in the world market.

Though the new government too slashed fuel prices in Sri Lanka last January while buying crude oil from the world market at around USD 45 per barrel, faced with an impending general election the government has not taken any steps to increase fuel prices in spite of the rise in world market prices.

Currently, the world market prices of crude oil have risen to some USD 58 per barrel.

This has compelled the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the privately run Indian Oil Company to sell petroleum while incurring huge losses.