Government Decides on a Single Standard for Plugs and Socket Outlets in Sri Lanka

Architects, Engineers, Technicians and Electricians to use only 13 ampere Standard

Sockets in all new buildings with immediate effect
Type G plug and socket outlet, widely known as the 13 A or the square pin
plug and socket was approved as the single standard for plugs and socket
outlets in Sri Lanka, at the cabinet meeting held on 16th August 2016.
Following the cabinet approval, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka
(PUCSL), as the regulator for the electricity industry, formally announced the
implementation of the single national standard for plugs and socket outlets.
Presently, Sri Lankans use numerous types of plugs, socket outlets, substandard electrical
accessories, substandard adaptors (multi-plugs) and extension cords. Demand for adaptors and
extension cords never decrease, because plugs attached to appliances we purchase, rarely fit into
the wall socket, because there is no single standard. Several accidental deaths and fires are
reported every year owing to the use of these substandard accessories and ad-hoc connections.
The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka through its Electrical Engineering Sectional
Committee initiated a discussion on safety of electrical appliances and accessories used by
the public in our country in 2012. As an outcome of this initiative, the PUCSL, after several
discussions with professionals and stakeholders in the electricity industry, and through a wide
public consultation process, recommended to the Government, that the Type G plug and socket
outlet, commonly referred to as the 13 A plug and socket, should be the only national standard to
be used in Sri Lanka.
The standard is effective from the date of the cabinet approval i.e. 16th August 2016 and the time
line for the transition, is given below.

The single national standard for plugs and socket outlets is now effective from 16th August
2016.
The transition period will be for 2 years from 16th August 2016 to 16th August 2018.
o Manufacture and import of non-standard plugs, socket outlets, adaptors and extension
cords with universal sockets will be allowed for one year until 16th August 2017, and will
be prohibited thereafter.
o Sale of non-standard socket outlets, adaptors, extension cords with universal sockets
and appliances carrying non-standard plugs will be allowed for two years, and will be
prohibited from 16th August 2018.
o A special Type G socket outlet with an embossed marking of 6A Max will be introduced
to the market as replacements for 5 A socket outlets already in use.
o Standards for one-to-one adaptors and extension cords will be introduced by the Sri
Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

The expiry period will be for 20 years from 16th August 2018 to 16th August 2038. During this
period,
o Plugs and socket outlets available in the market for purchase will only be of Type G.
o Standard one-to-one adaptors and standard extension cords will be
available for purchase.
o The special 6A MAX type G socket will be available in the market.
Operational period: from 16th August 2038 onwards
o Through the above systematic transition process, the country will totally
transform to the use of Type G plugs and socket outlets by 2038.

It is not required to re-wire existing households and buildings with the new standard 13 A socket
outlets. Existing wiring and sockets can remain until the end of their useful life. However, wiring of
new buildings and re-wiring of existing buildings, should adhere to the new single standard socket
outlets and wiring regulations, with immediate effect. If a 5 A (round pin) socket now existing on a
wall is damaged, to replace that, a special Type G socket with a label 6A Max will be available in
the market for a period of 20 years.
Although until August 2018, 5 A and 15 A (both round pin) socket outlets will be available in the
market for purchase, it would be unwise to use them in new buildings, because they will be
gradually phased-out of the market. So from now on, designers, architects, engineers and
technicians should use only 13 A sockets wired with appropriate sizes of wire, and protected with
correctly rated miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) in the distribution board. There is no need to wait
until 2018. Cost of wiring of 13 A sockets is comparatively lower than the wiring of 5 A socket
outlets for lower income households, as proven by a comprehensive study carried out by a panel of
Chartered Engineers. Cost Comparison of Wiring for 5A and 13A
Substandard adaptors now available in the market, commonly referred to as
multi-plugs will be prohibited for sale from August 2018. As a replacement,
standard one-to-one adaptors (to convert 5 A plug to 13 A socket and 13 A
plug to 5 A socket) would be introduced to the market in early 2017. Presently,
there are no standards for one-to-one adaptors in Sri Lanka, but Sri Lanka
Standards Institution (SLSI) would soon issue a standard, and the adaptors are
expected to be available by early 2017.
SLSI is currently in the process of preparing a standard for extension cords, and very soon, fused
extension cords with properly rated wires will be available in the market. Double insulated
appliances which are presently carrying two pin plugs, will be available in the market with Type G
plug; with a dummy insulated earth pin after 2018. These are already available in foreign countries.
So, after August 2018, whatever appliance you buy from the market,
will carry the 13 A plug which may or may not fit into the wall socket.
If it does not fit, a standard one-to-one adaptor will be available for
purchase, to safely connect your plug to the 5 A wall socket. If your
wall socket is 15 A, it is advised to replace it with a 13 A socket outlet
immediately. From August 2038 onwards, surely the appliance you
buy from the market will easily fit into the wall socket because, there will be only one national
standard in the country: 13 A plug and 13 A socket.
Designers, architects, engineers and technicians: With immediate effect, specify your client
requirements only in terms of 13 ampere sockets, and educate your clients about the new
single standard of 13 ampere plugs and sockets. The single standard is already approved and
operational. In fact, the 13 A socket is nothing new; it is already widely used in households,
offices and commercial buildings. The difference is that from August 2018, only the 13 ampere
The following should appear as hyperlinks to IESL web
standards will be available for sale.
Twelve frequently asked questions about sockets