By Ifham Nizam

The grid connection becomes a significant challenge as Sri Lanka scales up solar energy, Senior Lecturer at the University of Moratuwa’s Department of Electrical Engineering, Professor Asanka Rodrigo stressed.

He added: “We must conduct extensive studies on load flow, dynamic impacts and protection measures to ensure grid stability.”

Delivering the keynote address, at the partnership last Friday at the Marino Beach Colombo between E.B. Creasy, said to be one of the pioneers of solar energy in Sri Lanka, and LONGI, the world’s largest solar model manufacturer, Rodrigo said that he believes that the partnership highlights Sri Lanka’s commitment to renewable energy and the role both companies will play in supporting the nation’s green energy goals.

Discussing the integration of renewable energy into Sri Lanka’s national grid, he acknowledged that while the country’s small size poses challenges, it also presents opportunities for growth. “As a country close to the equator, we have excellent solar and wind resources, which make solar and wind a priority in our energy mix,” he noted.

Rodrigo detailed the government’s ambitious renewable energy goals, aiming for 70 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

Rodrigo added: “The challenges of integrating large-scale renewable energy projects, particularly intermittent sources like solar are considerable.

“The country has made significant progress in solar power deployment, achieving milestones of 200 MW in May 2019 and 1000 MW in July 2024. With an ambitious target of 4000 MW by 2030, the focus is on diversifying solar power infrastructure, including rooftop, ground-mounted, and floating solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

“Sri Lanka’s energy transition plan, as detailed in the draft Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan (LTGEP) for 2025–2044, reflects a commitment to reducing dependency on fossil fuels while enhancing grid reliability and energy security.”

Sanjeev Rajaratnam, Managing Director of E. B. Creasy & Co. PLC stressed the company’s long-standing commitment to solar energy.

He added: “Since the year 2000, E.B. Creasy has been promoting solar energy solutions to homes and businesses in Sri Lanka. Our business depends on our ability to provide energy solutions that reduce energy bills while lowering carbon footprints.”

He stressed that the company’s dedication to customer service and high-quality solutions has earned it the trust of the industry.

Chin Lee, Head of South Asia Peninsula Region at LONGI, followed with insights into the company’s achievements and future vision.

He said LONGI has set seven world records for photovoltaic (PV) cell conversion efficiency in recent years. “In 2023, we achieved 27.09% efficiency with our HVC solar cells, a world record for non-concentrated silicon cells,” said Chin Lee, reflecting on the company’s technological innovations.

He also addressed challenges in the solar market, mentioning how the price of solar panels surged by nearly 60% over the past year, but expressed confidence in LONGI’s ability to navigate these difficulties while delivering reliable, high-value products to customers.

Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd won as the most sustainable Tour Operator/ DMC at the “Sustainability Awards 2024,” organized by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka), in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) for the tourism industry. This is the second time Aitken Spence Travels has won this award.

The primary objective of this recognition program was to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of tourism sector stakeholders in promoting sustainability within their businesses. Additionally, it aims to create a competitive platform to increase visibility, highlights achievements through success stories, enhances reputations among industry peers and stakeholders, and utilizes this recognition to foster future partnerships and business opportunities.

This year the awards focused on two main segments; namely the Tour Operators/Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and Hotel & accommodation service providers. Within each category, there was a sub-category awards for both large enterprises and small to medium-sized enterprises.

The evaluation of the awards took into consideration factors such as the organizations holistic approach towards sustainability, the company’s visionary leadership, innovative capability, and resistance to external factors when implementing sustainability practices.

Stasshani Jayawardena, Head of the Tourism Sector for Aitken Spence PLC, commented “We are delighted to receive this recognition for the second time, as the last award ceremony was held in 2022. As one of the leading DMCs in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, sustainability is deeply rooted into our company’s core values”.

A delegation representing the Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF) recently concluded a two-day exchange program in Sri Lanka, organized under the initiative of the Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ACT/EMP) Dheli of the International Labour Organization (ILO) hosted by the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC).

The delegation comprised of six officials from BEF, accompanied by three ILO officials. The purpose of the program was to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the Federation works and strengthens its legal services by catering to the requirements of its membership.

During the visit, the delegation was introduced to the activities of the EFC, its membership strength and the broad spectrum of services provided by it, with special focus on litigation services.

The programme also included a visit to a Labour Tribunal where the delegation observed its proceedings and a meeting with the Commissioner General of Labour. These visits provided insights of the multifaceted roles played by the EFC.

Expressing his heartfelt appreciation the Secretary General and CEO of BEF remarked that, “This has been a tremendous learning opportunity, equipping the team with insights that will significantly enhance their in-house legal capacities.”