Oct 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka warned today that the power sector of the country might face a very difficult situation unless rains are received by next week.

He said that the hydropower areas lack rains for the fourth consecutive season as the inter-monsoonal rains expected from mid-September did not fall.

The Minister said that the hopes are on the northeastern monsoons now. The dry zone areas of the country are experiencing a shortage of drinking water as well now.

He added that the daily loss of the Ceylon Electricity Board has gone up to Rs. 200 million a day due to increase of production of thermal energy. He said that the government expects the corporation of the electricity customers to paddle through the difficult situation.