Sri Lanka to cut power cuts

The Sri Lankan Government says it is to reduce the length of the daily power cuts which had been introduced to alleviate the current electricity crisis.

The Power Minister, Karu Jayasuriya, said five-hour power cuts introduced in January would be reduced to two hours next month, with the extra electricity being bought in from private producers.

Correspondents say the shortfall has been casued by a severe drought, which has left Sri Lanka's hydro-electric supply reservoirs nearly dry.

Mr Jayasuriya said that all power cuts should stop by June.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service