Japanese Ambassador and UNDP Resident Representative engage in observation visit of the Climate Promise renewable energy initiatives in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The adverse effects of climate change, coupled with the long-drawn impacts of the socio-economic crisis has had devastating effects on communities across Sri Lanka.  The rural economy is reliant on natural resources, and has shown increasing frailty due to rampant inflation, increasing import prices, and the unpredictability of supply chains.

With increasing cost of living, energy sources continue to be unaffordable to many low-income households in rural Sri Lanka, prompting these families back into unsafe alternative energy options which cause indoor air pollution, premature deaths, and increase in acute and chronic diseases.

As part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Climate Promise initiative with funding from the Government of Japan through Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB) Phase 1, the project entitled ‘Enhancing Food and Energy Security through the Promotion of Renewable Energy for Wider Uptake among Vulnerable Smallholder Farmers in Sri Lanka’ was implemented in the North-Western and Eastern Provinces. In Phase 2, the ‘Enhancing Rural Resilience in Sri Lanka through Energy Efficiency & the Adoption of Renewable Energy for a Just Transition to Net-Zero Pathways’ project is being implemented in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

In a recent visit to the Northern and Eastern Provinces, Japanese Ambassador, Akio Isomata together with Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka, Azusa Kubota, engaged in an observation visit to selected project sites, along with key representatives from local governments including Nadaraja Thamilchelvan, Deputy Chief Secretary, Eastern Province; Dr. Raj Gnanasegar, Director-Planning, Eastern Province; and A. Umamaheshwaran, District Secretary, Mullaitivu District.

Commenting on the visits, Ambassador Isomata noted, “These projects are significant as they try to achieve human security of individuals as well as energy security of the society by meeting energy needs of the local communities through energy efficiency and renewable energy technology. Assistance to the Northern and Eastern Provinces continues to be important pillars of Japan’s development assistance to Sri Lanka. Japan is committed to working together with all stakeholders, also taking into account the recently-launched initiative of the new government ’Clean Sri Lanka.”

During the visit to the Eastern Province, the high-level delegation saw the direct impacts in locations including the District Agriculture Training Centre in Uppuweli, Trincomalee, which was supported with a 10kW solar PV system and supports nearly 10,000 individuals- playing a crucial role in equipping smallholder farmers, women, youth, and government officials with essential agricultural knowledge and skills with an annual saving of approximately 1,700 USD.

In the Northern Province, Ambassador Isomata and Kubota along with A. Umamaheshwaran, District Secretary, Mullaitivu District visited the beneficiaries with home gardens in Puthukkudiyiruppu. The delegation directly engaged and interacted with beneficiaries who have been supported through the introduction of Renewable Energy Technologies. 75 biogas units, 100 improved cookstoves and 102 Solar PV systems will be provided to the community under the project and were symbolically handed over to the community during the visit.

Highlighting UNDPs leadership through the initiative, Azusa Kubota Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka added, “For many families in this area, energy access is not just a challenge—it’s a barrier to opportunity. High energy costs limit the potential to thrive socially and economically. By providing solar, biogas, and improved cookstoves to the community through the UNDP Climate Promise Initiative, funded by the Government of Japan, we enhance livelihoods and narrow the energy divide for rural farming communities. We are grateful for the opportunities provided by the Government and People of Japan to bring new technologies to the communities.”

The completed JSB funded Phase 1 project supported the agricultural sector facing the shortage of power and energy, enhancing food and energy security through the utilization of renewable energy, with funding amounting to 1 million USD. The on-going JSB funded Phase 2 project has worked to strengthen the human and energy security of climate vulnerable communities, particularly women, youth and rural entrepreneurs, while accelerating the uptake of renewable energy technologies, for domestic, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and public service energy requirements, setting a foundation for a just transition to net-zero pathways and sustainable development, with funding amounting to almost 328 thousand USD.