COLOMBO, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka on Sunday launched a national program aimed at encouraging the public to use energy sparingly amid concerns over possible disruptions to the country's energy and fuel supplies due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

This photo taken on Dec. 23, 2024 shows a train by the sea in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo: Xinhua)

Issuing a press statement, the President's Media Division (PMD) said the five-month campaign seeks to build a country that uses energy resources carefully and to involve the public directly in safeguarding national energy security.

Under the program, people are encouraged to reduce electricity use during peak hours from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and shift high-energy-consuming activities to daytime as much as possible, the PMD said.

The program takes into account forecasts of possible El Nino weather conditions in the future that might reduce rainfall. The government also stressed the need for careful water use in the future, noting that a significant share of the country's electricity generation comes from hydropower.

According to the PMD, the campaign's main goal is to change public attitudes toward energy conservation and promote voluntary participation in efficient energy use.