Feb 26, Colombo: A recent circular sent out by the Treasury urging Sri Lanka's states sector offices to save energy by limiting the use of air conditioners has come under criticism as some of office buildings become unbearably hot during the day.

Treasury recently issued a circular instructing the heads of the public sector offices to keep the air conditioners on only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

However, the office hours of the public sector stretch from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Employees of some public sector buildings say that the offices have been designed for air conditioning and the employees cannot work in them when the air conditioners are switched off.

The Treasury Secretary issued this circular to the heads of the government ministries, departments, corporations, boards and other institutions with the aim of cutting the costs through saving energy with the rising petroleum price.