Sri Lanka plug: UK type in new national standard (2017)

Sri Lanka plug: The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), in conjunction with the Sri Lanka Standards Association (SLSI), have decided to standardise on one plug type.  Historically using the smaller and larger round pin Indian plugs (SLS948) along with the square pin UK plug (SLS734), plus European and American types (no standard), they will move to only using a single type, based on the BS1363 UK plug, and codified in the new SLS734 standard.

The almost unlimited variety of different incompatible plugs required the use of adaptor plugs and universal wall sockets with large unshuttered apertures, which were deemed unreliable, and sometimes unsafe.  In 2015 alone there were 95 electrocutions.

Sri Lanka plug considerations

From 16 August 2017 only the new type SLS734 plug, known locally as the “square pin plug” or “13 A plug” may be sold in Sri Lanka, i.e. no Indian types (6A and 16A) or multi adaptor types.  Importation was banned the previous year, in 2016. This includes any electrical equipment fitted with a mains plug intended for use in household, commercial, and light industrial settings. Extension cords are specifically mentioned, as being particularly high-risk items.

Any new buildings or products must have the new plugs and sockets, but existing permanent applications, e.g. domestic wiring, do not have to be changed until 16 August 2038. This is outside the normal lifespan of the majority of electrical appliances so should provide more than enough time for a smooth and efficient transition.

In the consultation phase, Australian and Israeli types were considered, but as these were not already in use in the country, the choice was limited to 13A UK and 16A Indian types. As other countries have generally moved away from the round pin (SLS948) to the square pin (SLS734), Sri Lanka opted for the newer version. Whilst these standards set out the requirements for the plugs, they did not ban other types; however, since 2017, this is now the case. Equipment previously supplied or imported with a European or North American 2 pin plug must now have the powercable or plug replaced with the correct type to ensure legality.

Sri Lanka previously recognised the 1995 edition of BS1363, but does not want to incorporate some recent amendments covering adaptors, travel adaptors, and mobile phone chargers, hence the adoption of a new discrete standard.

Sri Lanka socket issues

The most common domestic mains socket in Sri Lanka is the smaller 5A roundpin one, which is sufficient for everyday appliances in the average family home, with the exception of heating appliances (usually just an electric kettle). The fixed wiring in the walls is 1mm or 1.5mm, protected respectively by a 6A or 10A miniature circuit breaker (MCB) on the main fuseboard. This is an immediate issue if the new plug is to be 13A rated, as this is considerably more than the ratings of current-carrying components. A single 13A socket should be wired with 1.5mm cable minimum, and a twin outlet with 2.5mm cable.

Replacing the socket outlet is easy and cheap, as the mounting is identical, and the cost only slightly higher (370 Sri Lankan Rupees versus 350 Rs. in 2017). However, considering typical wire lengths and installation methods, replacing the fixed wiring is likely to be three times the cost if using larger cable; it is hoped that material costs will decrease due to economies of scale as the larger cables are sold in greater volumes due to the new requirements.

Another option is to just change the socket, retaining the current 6 or 10A wiring and MCB, and add a warning label or colour-coding to alert the user to the maximum permitted continuous current. This is not ideal, and manufacturers of 13A sockets have updated their product packaging to warn installers to check the pre-existing wiring. The government has also included this point in their public awareness drive surrounding the new requirements.

The same issue does not arise when replacing the 15A sockets, as this is a simple straight swap; the old wiring and circuit breakers can be left in situ. Almost all domestic or office equipment draws less than 13 amps, so there are very few situations where the 13A rating is insufficient. Larger equipment tends to be hard-wired or use an industrial-grade or 3-phase plug, so this only applies to the few appliances needing less than 15A but more than 13A. In reality this is just air conditioners, where for example a 24,000 BTU unit draws around 14A; newer designs are more efficient, bringing curent draw under 13A.

New Sri Lanka plug: conclusion

The Sri Lankan government has minimised extra cost and inconvenience to stakeholders, by notifying all parties (manufacturers, shippers, importers, retailers, installers, users) in plenty of time, and by allowing long enough for end users to replace all electrical appliances at their natural end-of-life.

We stock fully-approved UK plugs, both moulded at various lengths and rewireable in different colours, meeting the new Sri Lankan specification. Please get in touch for any sales enquiry or technical question and our support team will be more than happy to help.