Clocks turn back half-hour after dawning
of the New Year
[April 6, 2006 - 11.30 GMT]
Sri Lanka will turn
the clock back by 30 minutes with effect from midnight April 14, 2006,
reverting to the GMT + 5 ½ hours, joining India in the same time zone.
This is the time zone Sri Lanka belongs to and has adhered to for over
50 years after independence.
The change will occur
during the first midnight after the dawning of the Sinhala and Tamil New
Year as the auspicious times for this festive season have been fixed
according to the present clock.
In 1996 due to
problems which occurred as a result of a crisis in the supply of
electrical power during that period Sri Lankan clocks were advanced by
one hour for daylight saving. Sri Lanka was placed in the GMT + 6 ½
hour’s time zone with effect from midnight May 24th 1996.
After this advancing
there were public agitations specially from school children, their
parents and office workers, therefore the Cabinet of Ministers decided
to put the clock back by half hour from October 26th 1996,
placing Sri Lanka in the GMT + 6 hour time zone.
Sri Lanka has a
history of time change when the need arises.
January 1, 1880
GMT + 5 hrs 20 mts
June 1, 1906
GMT + 5 hrs 30 mts
January 5, 1942
GMT + 6 hrs 00 mts
September 1, 1942 GMT
+ 6 hrs 30 mts
January 16, 1945
GMT + 5 hrs 30 mts
May 25, 1996
GMT + 6 hrs 30 mts
October 26, 1996
GMT + 6 hrs 00 mts
According to the
World Map of Time Zones most of the countries within longitude 67
degrees and angular minutes 30 East (67 30 E) and longitude 82 degrees
and angular minutes 30 East (82 30 E) use the time zone GMT + 5 or 5 ½
hrs or when the sun is on the meridian of a place it is apparent noon
there. The entirety of India belongs to the GMT + 5 ½ hour time zone.
Since the
circumstance which led to the initial time change in 1996 no longer
prevails it is but natural for Sri Lanka to revert to its old time zone.
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Last Updated
Date: April 06, 2006 -11.30 GMT |