Time has been a critical component of human life since time immemorial. The ability to measure it has evolved over the years, leading to the invention of sophisticated timepieces that have become fundamental in our daily lives.
Today, we live in a global village, made possible by technology that has enabled us to transcend geographical and cultural barriers. Technology has also facilitated communication, with telecommunication networks being a vital cog in this revolution.
The internet has become the backbone of this transformation, necessitating the creation of an internationally recognized time standard that could be utilized across various platforms. One of the prominent standards that have emerged is the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
This article explores what UTC is, its adoption in Sri Lanka, and its significance as an internet-based time standard. What is UTC?
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is an internationally accepted time standard that is used as a reference for timekeeping. It refers to the time as measured through the primary atomic clocks located around the world.
The International Bureau of Weights and Measures oversees the standardization of UTC, which is based on the International Atomic Time (TAI) that uses the vibrations of atoms in atomic clocks to measure time. Satellite Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers are some of the tools used to synchronize time according to the UTC standard.
A significant advantage of UTC is that it is immutable, rendering it a reliable source of time worldwide. It is also a linear and continuous time standard that is not subject to changes in political boundaries, daylight saving, and leap seconds.
This makes it an ideal time standard to be used in various telecommunication networks worldwide.
Adoption of UTC in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, like many other countries in the world, has its time zone. The standard used in Sri Lanka is known as the Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST), which is five and a half hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
However, in 2019, the Sri Lankan government passed legislation adopting the UTC standard, replacing the GMT standard that was previously in use. The adoption of the UTC standard was communicated through a gazette notification by the Government Printer.
The notification specified that the standard time in Sri Lanka would be based on the UTC, which was set five hours and thirty minutes ahead of GMT. The gazette notification came into effect on 20th April 2019, making it mandatory for institutions, organizations, and government entities in Sri Lanka to follow the new time standard.
Importance of UTC as an Internet-Based Time Standard
The growth of digital technology in recent years has created a demand for an internet-based time standard that could be used for internet-based applications. UTC has subsequently become the standard in many internet-based applications, including video conferencing, e-commerce, and banking.
These applications require an accurate, reliable, and universally accepted way of measuring time to ensure the smooth running of their operations. For instance, in e-commerce, UTC plays a significant role in processing online transactions.
Transactions that have different time zones must be accurately time-stamped to ensure that they reflect the correct time in different regions globally. This is particularly important in international trade, where currencies operate in different time zones.
Changes in Sri Lankas Timekeeping
The adoption of the UTC standard in Sri Lanka replaced the GMT standard and affected timekeeping in several ways. For instance, it resulted in a change of the country’s time zone, which was five and a half hours ahead of GMT, to five hours and thirty minutes ahead of GMT.
The adoption of UTC has also brought Sri Lanka in line with global telecommunication networks, which use the UTC time standard. The change to UTC has also made timekeeping in Sri Lanka more accurate.
The TAI, which is used in the standardization of UTC, is more accurate than the GMT standard that was previously in use. The atomic clocks used in TAI can measure time to within fractions of a second, making it more precise and reliable than the GMT standard.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the adoption of UTC in Sri Lanka represents an important milestone in the country’s timekeeping history. It has brought the country in line with global telecommunications networks, and it replaced the less-accurate GMT standard that was previously in use.
The UTC time standard is also critical in internet-based applications, which require an accurate and reliable way of measuring time. This has made the standard more popular in recent years, and it is expected to continue to shape the way we measure time in the digital age.
SLST and UTC: A Comparative Analysis
Timekeeping is a critical component of modern life that is used in almost all human activities, including trade, governance, and communication. Sri Lanka, like other countries, has its time zone, known as the Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST).
However, for efficient communication and trade, it is essential to adopt an internationally accepted time standard, such as the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This article seeks to explore the history of SLST, its current adoption and synchronization, and compare it with UTC, with a focus on their differences and how they are maintained in Sri Lanka.
History of SLST in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has had a long history of timekeeping, dating back to ancient times when the sun was used to measure the passage of time. However, the adoption of international time standards started in the early 1900s with the use of Indian Standard Time (IST) to synchronize time across the region.
Later, Sri Lanka started using GMT+6:30 for daylight saving purposes. However, this system was discontinued due to a severe power shortage in the country that affected the energy sector.
As a result, the country reverted to using IST. In 1996, following the Energy Crisis, the government of Sri Lanka introduced daylight saving time to conserve energy, which resulted in a change from IST to GMT+6:00 for six months every year.
However, in 2019, Sri Lanka adopted the UTC standard, replacing both IST and GMT. This has brought the country in line with global telecommunication networks, which use the UTC time standard.
Current Adoption and Synchronization of SLST
The Sri Lanka Standard Time is currently being measured and regulated through the Measurement Units, Standards and Services Act No.35 of 1995. This act established the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) that is responsible for developing and enforcing quality standards in the country, including time standards.
The SLSI has designated the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) as the body responsible for maintaining and synchronizing the SLST. The NPL operates under the Ministry of Technology and Innovation and is responsible for measuring time within the accuracy of fractions of seconds using atomic clocks.
The SLST is also synchronized with international time standards specified by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) through the Network Time Protocol (NTP). To access the Sri Lanka local time, the official website www.sltime.org provides access to real-time SLST with a web users interface.
This service provides access to the current date and time and also provides current and future dates for public holidays.
Difference between SLST and UTC
SLST refers to the time standard used in Sri Lanka, while UTC is an internationally accepted time standard used globally. SLST, like many other local time standards worldwide, is adjusted to reflect the country’s longitude and time zone.
In Sri Lanka’s case, SLST is five and a half hours ahead of GMT. On the other hand, UTC is a linear and continuous time standard that is not subject to changes in political boundaries, daylight saving, and leap seconds.
The difference between SLST and UTC is calculated by adding or subtracting the difference in hours and minutes between the two standards. SLST is five and a half hours ahead of GMT, while UTC is five hours and thirty minutes ahead of GMT.
Therefore, the difference between SLST and UTC is zero.
Maintenance of SLST and UTC in Sri Lanka
The maintenance of SLST and UTC in Sri Lanka is regulated by the Measurement Units, Standards and Services Act No.35 of 1995. This act specifies the standards for measurements, including timekeeping, and establishes legal units of measurement for purposes of trade, commerce, and industry.
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the body responsible for maintaining and synchronizing the SLST, while the UTC standard is maintained by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). The NPL operates within the Ministry of Technology and Innovation and measures time with atomic clocks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, SLST and UTC are two critical time standards used globally. While SLST is specific to Sri Lanka, UTC is an internationally recognized standard used in various telecommunication networks worldwide.
Sri Lanka’s adoption of UTC has put the country in line with global telecommunication networks, thereby facilitating communication, trade and further technological advancements in the country. The maintenance of these time standards in Sri Lanka is regulated by the Measurement Units, Standards and Services Act No.35 of 1995, which has established the Sri Lanka Standards Institution and the National Physical Laboratory as the regulatory bodies.
In conclusion, the adoption of coordinated universal time standard (UTC) has become critical in global telecommunication networks, including Sri Lanka. SLST has also undergone significant changes to meet international standards.
SLST has been historically used in the country, following IST and GMT+6:30 for daylight saving purposes. However, due to energy scarcity and the internet revolution, the country has adopted the UTC standard in 2019.
To maintain both SLST and UTC standards, Sri Lanka Standards Institute and the National Physical Laboratory are responsible for promoting and implementing legal units of measurement for international and local standards. Ultimately, Sri Lanka’s use of UTC and SLST highlights the importance of understanding and adopting universally accepted time standards to function in a globalized world.