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SRI LANKAN-AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE INNOVATION TO CUT COSTS BY 30 PER CENT AND REDUCE HARMFUL EMISSIONS

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/18

Innovative technologies and solutions from Australia, introduced in Sri Lanka and Maldives in 2014, have prevented over 29,314,918 kg equivalent of GHG Emission savings (CO2) from polluting the environment. This achievement has been confirmed using internationally acclaimed Australian measurement and verification protocols.

Renewable energy and energy conservation are two important pillars in tackling climate change, and Australian businesses have been working to achieve these important goals through their use of Australian technological solutions both domestically and overseas. Sri Lanka and Maldives are among the countries adopting these technological solutions to climate change.

“ECO33, a company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, introduced one of these Australian technological solutions to Sri Lanka in 2014. The company has now installed over 30 energy efficient chillers from SMARDT and commissioned four large energy cost-saving projects. These have resulted in cost savings and environmental benefits to the businesses, government and people of Sri Lanka. We were delighted to observe South Asia’s largest energy efficient chiller (1600TR units) operating at Shangri-La Mall in Colombo, Sri Lanka” stated Amanda Jewell, Deputy High Commissioner, Australian High Commission, Sri Lanka.

“Energy has an unreversible effect on the bottom line, and the cheapest way to reduce energy cost is through energy retrofitting solutions. We don’t promote energy efficient products; we install solutions that are sustainable for over the next 15 years. This is possible because of our company culture towards climate action” states Dammica Wickramaratne – Chairman/MD of ECO33 Australia and Sri Lanka.

“We see potentially rewarding trade opportunities between Australia and Sri Lanka in terms of energy cost saving technologies and solutions. This brings another dimension to our commitment to deliver on Australia’s climate action strategy” stated Shameel Javadh – Director of Trade & Investment, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Colombo, Sri Lanka

The SMARDT-PowerPax oil-free energy efficient chiller is an innovation from Australia, with global manufacturing in Australia, Canada, USA, Germany and China. At the heart of the SMARDT chiller’s emission reducing technology is its Turbocor compressor SMARDT has over 8,000 units globally, and it is the leading chiller brand in Sri Lanka. The chiller is successful because it is reliable and efficient and ECO33 provides quality after-sales services.

ECO33, headquartered in Australia, was incorporated and established in Sri Lanka in 2014 by award-winning entrepreneur Dammica Wickramaratne. Since its inception ECO33 has continued to pave the way for energy conservation both locally and internationally. The company is responsible for the creation of innovative business models that look at solutions to fit tomorrow’s business and economic landscapes. The company was the recipient of a National Energy Savings Award from “Energy Globe – Austria” for 2018/19. The company has alliances and partnerships with SMARDT, Schneider, Danfoss, Pelco, TICA and many more global brands. ECO33’s success comes from its passion for energy conservation, its desire to deliver sustainable benefits and its ability to create an equal opportunity company culture.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.