Sri Lanka is trying to reduce electricity rates by using solar power

Sri Lanka is looking for loan assistance from India or China for the purchase of solar panels.

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said on Tuesday that this decision has been taken to reduce the exorbitant cost of electricity.

Earlier, influential Buddhist monks in the country had called for a protest against the rising electricity prices.

Wijesekara told Parliament, "We are facing foreign exchange crunch, which has made it difficult to pay for imports.

We have to think of a solution that is to get loan assistance from India or China and import solar panels from it.

"Sri Lanka hiked electricity rates by an average of 75 per cent in August after nine years.

The government is facing criticism from Buddhist monks over this decision.

He has asked the public not to pay the electricity bills in protest.