The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been voted the ‘People’s Private Banking Services Brand of the Year’ for the third consecutive year at the SLIM Kantar People’s Awards 2025, in a significant validation of the Bank’s status as the most popular private sector bank in the country.

Presented by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) and based on research by Kantar, a leading global insights agency, these awards are considered the ultimate testament to consumer-driven recognition in Sri Lanka. They are determined solely by consumer votes rather than a panel of experts, and recognise the brands and personalities that have earned the trust and loyalty of Sri Lankans.

The Bank said this accolade is a testament to the continuing impact of its services in the lives of millions of people, as well as the effectiveness of the Bank’s brand-building efforts and marketing initiatives. The Bank’s continuous engagement with customers, innovative campaigns, and commitment to delivering superior banking experiences have been instrumental in securing this recognition.

During the Eng. (Prof.) R. H. Paul Memorial Oration 2025, Prof. Lilantha Samaranayake emphasised the urgent need for advanced solar photovoltaic (PV) integration to create a resilient and sustainable energy future. Speaking on the Future of Renewable Energy, he highlighted projections from the International Energy Agency (IEA) that forecast global renewable electricity generation will exceed 17,000 TWh by 2030, representing an almost 90% increase from 2023. Solar PV is anticipated to become the leading source of renewable electricity, followed by wind and hydroelectric power.

Sri Lanka has set an ambitious target of achieving 100% renewable energy. Policymakers are working towards a people-centric, equitable, and affordable energy transition. The government also aims to reduce electricity tariffs by 30% within five years, though no specific timeline has been set for net-zero emissions.

Challenges in Solar PV Integration—While renewable energy adoption is increasing, challenges remain. A major issue is grid stability due to solar energy’s intermittent nature. Grid stability refers to the ability of an electrical power grid to maintain a consistent voltage and frequency while balancing electricity supply and demand. One of the main challenges with integrating solar energy into the grid is its intermittent nature, meaning that solar power generation fluctuates depending on sunlight availability. This variability can cause instability in the grid.

Why is Solar Energy Intermittent? Solar panels generate electricity only when exposed to sunlight. At night, there is no generation, requiring alternative power sources. Cloud cover, rain, and seasonal changes affect solar energy output. On cloudy days, solar generation can drop suddenly, causing fluctuations in power supply. Unlike conventional power plants that provide a steady output, solar energy can vary within minutes, making it challenging to maintain a stable power flow.

How Does This Affect Grid Stability? The Electricity grids operate at a specific frequency (e.g., 50 Hz or 60 Hz). A sudden drop in solar power generation can lead to a decrease in frequency, potentially causing power outages. Solar energy injections can cause voltage levels to rise or drop unpredictably, affecting equipment performance and consumer supply quality. Traditional power plants have rotating generators that provide inertia, helping to stabilise the grid. Solar PV systems do not have this natural inertia, making the grid more susceptible to instability.

Prof. Samaranayake explained that Sri Lanka’s current power generation mix, as of November 2024, includes:

27% from hydroelectric power

19.6% from rooftop solar

14.3% from coal

13.6% from oil

5.1% from private oil plants

Smaller contributions from wind, biomass, and other renewable sources

A key concern is the lack of inertia in renewable energy sources. Unlike conventional power plants, solar and wind do not provide inherent grid stability, leading to frequency fluctuations.

Prof. Samaranayake proposed an innovative solution for grid stability: implementing Virtual Inertia using advanced power electronic control systems. This approach mimics the stabilising effect of traditional rotating generators, ensuring a steady frequency supply in the grid.

Other potential solutions include:

Adding rotating machines such as LNG or nuclear power plants

Energy storage systems like pumped storage, flywheels, and large-scale battery systems

Enhancing grid regulations to support the integration of rooftop solar PV systems

The introduction of advanced Virtual Inertia technology is expected to complement regulatory changes that relax statutory voltage limits and improve the quality of electricity supply.

Another controversial yet forward-looking strategy discussed was the possibility of nuclear energy. According to sources from the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB), the country’s first nuclear power plant, leveraging integral pressurized water reactor (iPWR) technology, could be operational by 2032. Given Sri Lanka’s proximity to India, which already operates nuclear plants, proponents argue that nuclear energy could be a viable option for stabilizing the power grid.

Prof. Samaranayake stressed the need for a holistic approach, as solar PV continues to be vital to Sri Lanka’s energy future. This involves investing in energy storage, enhancing grid infrastructure, and enacting regulatory reforms. He called on policymakers, engineers, and the public to collaborate in creating a more sustainable and resilient energy landscape.

The Eng. (Prof.) R. H. Paul Memorial Oration reminds us of engineering and innovation’s critical role in tackling global energy challenges. With strategic planning and technological advancements, Sri Lanka can pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

The oration paid tribute to the late Prof. R. H. Paul, a distinguished academic and former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, who made significant contributions to electrical and electronic engineering in Sri Lanka. His legacy continues to inspire advancements in the energy sector.

After her tenure at the Polonnaruwa Base Hospital, she held the position of Consultant Physician at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama, where she conducted extensive research on alcohol and drug dependence as well as leptospirosis. Thereafter she dedicated 22 years of her career to the Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital before retiring in 2015, after 42 years of service to the government of Sri Lanka. She is currently practicing as a senior consultant physician at Asiri Medical Hospital in Colombo. As of now she has dedicated over fifty years to her career in the medical field.

She was chosen to present six medical orations and made history as the first woman to deliver the S.C. Paul oration with her talk titled “Malaria – The Scourge of Polonnaruwa.” Additionally, she received the Wijerama award for the best scientific paper at the centenary congress of the SLMA for her presentation on “Neurological Complications of Malaria in the Polonnaruwa District.” In this paper she noted febrile fits, acute cerebellar syndrome, toxic confusional state, cerebral malaria, Guillain-Barre syndrome, extra pyramidal tremor, delayed psychosis, as reversible myopathy neurological complications due to malaria.

I had the privilege of attending the Deshabandu Dr. C.G. Uragoda MBBS(Ceylon), MD(Ceylon), Honorary D.Sc (Colombo), FRCP (Edinburgh) and FRCP (Glasgow) Oration on the History of Medicine, titled “History of Malaria in Sri Lanka: The Scourge of Nine Centuries,” delivered by Dr. Anula Wijesundere on February 26, 2025, at the Lionel Memorial Auditorium, Sri Lanka Medical Association. It is quite remarkable to observe that both Deshbandu Dr. C.G. Uragoda and my late father, Dr. D.V.H. Silva, were born in the same year, 1928. They both attended Mahinda College in Galle and Ananda College in Colombo concurrently, and they also enrolled in the Colombo Medical Faculty at the same time, although they later pursued different medical specialties.

During the Deshabandu Dr. C.G. Uragoda Oration, Dr Anula Wijesundere commented that malaria could be a potentially fatal disease if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Dr. Anula Wijesundere provided a comprehensive overview of malaria’s history from a global perspective, detailing its spread. She systematically outlined the measures implemented to limit the transmission of the disease by controlling mosquito populations and reducing human contact with these vectors, employing both chemical and non-chemical strategies.

She said in the years 1986 to 1988 Sri Lanka experienced malaria as an epidemic and was the leading cause of all government hospital admissions. She said that during this period in Polonnaruwa 30% of hospital admissions were due to malaria. During this period, she conducted extensive research on malaria patients.

(To be Continued)

By Dharshan Silva
CEO, Abans Finance PLC
Continued from Yesterday