Sri Lanka sets Standard time keeping

The official Sri Lankan timekeeping website aimed at synchronizing watches and helping locals to obey astrological instructions could now be accessed through the web www.sltime.org.

This site launched on Monday by President Mahinda Rajapakse as a resource to help align clocks, watches and computers with Sri Lankan Standard Time, which is five and a half hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time is maintained  by the  National Measurement Laboratory of  Measurement Units Standards And Services Department under the Measurement Units, Standards and Services Act, No: 35 of 1995 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Many Sri Lankans who are firm believers in astrology regularly consult experts for advice.
This website will make it easier for people to follow astrological advice and do things at the correct auspicious time.

According to the Measurement Units Department the Standard time of Sri Lanka is 5 hours 30 minutes in advance of Coordinated Universal Time.
The Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) means the time determined by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures and maintained in Sri Lanka under the section 6 of the Measurement Units, Standards and Services Act No.35 of 1995.

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is an international time scale recommended by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) as the legal basis for time. It is a method of measuring time using atomic clocks. To determine the international standard of Coordinated Universal Time, the Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Paris Coordinates data from atomic clocks located in timing laboratories around the globe.

Greenwich Mean Time, which is based on astronomical observations, is an average (mean) because the actual time taken for the Earth's rotation varies slightly from day to day. Measurements taken by atomic clocks vary far less. The difference between Greenwich Mean Time and Coordinated Universal Time is measured in fractions of a second. The difference is important, however, in some scientific matters.

For example, it is relevant in computer programmes that use high speed data transfers and in universal synchronization matters. It is also the basis of the satellite global positioning system (GPS).