Opinion

Matters ‘COPE’ overlooked

Published

4 years ago

2020/12/7

Browsing the internet, before commenting on Dr. Janaka Ratnasiri’s above captioned article, to update myself on what the future holds on coal power generation, as a preamble or a prelude, I came across the following:

“While the amount of electricity generation from coal has declined in recent years, in part due to the rising accessibility of renewable sources of energy, the coal power industry has continued to build new coal-fired generation plants at a rapid pace. The global installed coal power generation capacity is projected to be on the rise over the next decades and predicted to reach a capacity of over 2.2 terawatts in 2050. As of 2019, China had the highest installed capacity from its Coal Power Plants amounting to about 1,005 gigawatts in total. The United States comes distant second with over 246 gigawatts of coal power plant capacity, followed by India at about 229 gigawatts.”

At the same time, there is encouraging news that China has carried out extensive research in converting coal to ‘Clean Coal’, to facilitate the use of coal in an environmentally satisfactory and economically viable way, with clean coal technologies. China has made remarkable progress in this and Clean Coal technologies have now entered into commercialization in stages.

It should also be admitted that 100 percent reliance cannot be kept in renewable sources, specially the major components being Solar and Wind due to vagaries of climate. Developed countries such as Germany have standby Coal plants to meet any short-fall in energy.

Coming to Dr. Janaka Ratnasiri’s reference to Fly Ash, Fishing and diseases, it is considered appropriate to quote what the internationally famed consultants on Coal Power Plants – Ramboll of Denmark, appointed on Norochcholai Coal Plant-had said in their report, for the information of those who have had no access to this document.

Impact from Fly Ash

To the extent at all possible will be recycled and reused in, for example the cement production and brick production just as fly ash under the right conditions can be reused in road construction or similar. However, the bottom ash and possibly part of the fly ash from the electrostatic precipitators as well can be reused. Therefore, an ash disposal site will be constructed inside the coal power plant. The design includes a low permeability bottom liner sloped towards sump pits. The leachate is collected in a sedimentation pond. The clarified water can be used for dust control. The design of the fly ash deposit lives up to modern recommendations for design of similar waste deposits. The consultant is, therefore, convinced that these measures will provide the necessary prevention of the ground water resource.

The environmental viability of ash recycling in the construction industry is given by the prevailing practice in numerous countries of the world, where ash from coal-fired coal plants is recycled in the industry. Trace elements are not considered an issue that valuable fly ash shall not be used for such applications. In these countries, very often demand for such fly ash exceeds the supply. The small amounts of [ignition oil] contaminated ash will not be recycled, but dumped into the ash landfill. It would be unwise not to recycle a maximum of non-contaminated and reusable fly ash.

Sulphur Emission and Particulate Emission

Based on combustion calculations for the selected boiler design and a range of possible coal types, the limiting coal type with respect to sulphur content has been selected. This will have a maximum sulphur content of 0.65 % and a sulphur/HHV ratio of less than 0.11% per kcal/kg. When coal of this type or with less sulphur is burned, the smoke emission from the stack should be according to the national standards, and no flue gas desulphurisation plant [FGD] is required.

As regards NO2 the plant design ensures emission below the required levels and the dispersion simulations show low concentrations of 15 to 30% of the maximum levels for all operational scenarios.

As for Particulate Emission the report says, “The concentration levels in the air at the areas surrounding the plant have been obtained through atmospheric dispersion simulation. The outcome was that the resulting concentrations will be only a small fraction [3-4%] of the allowable maximum. As such, the smoke emitted will be almost without dust, which is often seen from a modern power plant, where the smoke escapes from the stack with a little content of water vapour. The vapour spreads in the air within a short distance from the stack, and hereafter the emission is completely invisible’

Impact on Fishing

The cooling water system will be dosed with hydrochlorite [to a final concentration of 3-4 ppm] for 20 to 30 minutes every six hours. The dosing is required to avoid microbial growth within the cooling system. The hypochlorite treated water is diluted at the same rate as the heat. This means that the dilution will be about five times within the near vicinity of the outlet [Equal to temperature decreasing from 7 o to 1.5 o C]. It is also demonstrated that significant dilution will occur further down-stream of the plant. Any chloro-amines formed by the action of hypochlorite and ammonia, will similarly be diluted to an immeasurable concentration. It is concluded in the EIA that the small area affected by the discharged cooling water will have no adverse effect on the coastal fish population and the coastal fishing economy.

Diseases

In the preparation of this report on Norochcholai Coal-fired Plant, the Consultants have met the people of the area and to a question posed, the consultants had replied ‘The planned coal fired power plant will meet the ambient air quality standards which were set so as not to harm people, animals and environment. Consequently, there will be no fear of tuberculosis, cancer or any other disease induced by the coal fired power plant’.

In conclusion it should be said that the efficient working of the Coal Plant is left in the hands of the operators to adhere meticulously, to the recommendations made by the consultants, else sporadic outbursts may crop up from the inhabitants of the area, mostly comprising of fishermen, and those small scale farmers.

G. A. D. SIRIMAL

Boralesgamuwa

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Opinion

LG polls, what a waste of money!

Published

3 days ago

2025/03/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

If the people of this country were asked whether they want elections to the local government, majority of them would say no! How many years have elapsed since the local councils became defunct? And did not the country function without these councils that were labelled as ‘white elephants’?

If the present government’s wish is to do the will of the people, they should reconsider having local government elections. This way the government will not only save a considerable amount of money on holding elections, but also save even a greater amount by not having to maintain these local councils, which have become a bane on the country’s economy.

One would hope that the country will be able to get rid of these local councils and revert back to the days of having competent Government Agents and a team of dedicated government officials been tasked with the responsibility of attending to the needs of the people in those areas.

M. Joseph A. Nihal Perera

Opinion

What not to do

Published

4 days ago

2025/03/12

Sahan Weerasooriya

Trump and Zelensky arguing in the White House

By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

It is immaterial whether you like him or not but one thing is crystal clear; Donald Trump has shown, very clearly, who is the boss. Surely, presidents of two countries are equal; perhaps, that is the impression Volodymyr Zelensky had when he went to the White House to meet Trump but the hard reality, otherwise, would have dawned on him with his inglorious exit! True, the behaviour of President Trump and VP Vance were hardly praiseworthy but Zelensky did what exactly he should not do. Afterall, he was on a begging mission and beggars cannot be choosers! He behaved like professional beggars in Colombo who throw money back when you give a small amount!!

Despite the risk of belonging to the minority, perhaps of non-Americans, I must say that I quite like Trump and admire him as a straight-talking politician. He keeps to his words; however atrocious they sound! Unfortunately, most critics overlook the fact that what Trump is doing is exactly what he pledged during his election campaign and that the American voters elected him decisively. When he lost to Biden, all political commentators wrote him off, more so because of his refusal to admit defeat and non-condemnation of his supporters who rioted. When he announced his intention to contest, it only evoked pundits’ laughter as they concluded that the Republican Party would never nominate him. Undaunted, Trump got the party to rally round him and won a non-consecutive second term; a feat achieved only once before, by Grover Cleveland around the end of the nineteenth century. His victory, against all predictions, was more decisive as he got more collegiate votes and, even though it does not matter, won the popular vote too which he did not get when he got elected the first term. Even his bitterest critics should accept this fact.

Zelensky was elected the president of Ukraine after the elected pro-Soviet president was deposed by a ‘peoples revolution’ engineered by the EU with the support of USA. After this, the EU attempted to bring Ukraine to NATO, disregarding the Munich agreement which precipitated the Russian invasion. He should have realised that, if not for the air-defence system which Trump authorised for Ukraine during his first term, Russian invasion would have been complete. It may well be that he was not aware as when this happened Zelensky may still have been the comedian acting the part of the president! Very likely, Trump was referring to this when he accused Zelensky of being ungrateful.

Zelensky also should have remembered that he disregarded requests from Trump, after his defeat by Biden, to implicate Biden’s son in some shady deals in Ukraine and that one of the last acts of Biden was to pardon his son and grant immunity to cover the alleged period. Perhaps, actions of the European leaders who embrace him every time they see him, as a long-lost brother, and invitations to address their parliaments has induced an element of the superiority complex in Zelensky that he behaved so combative.

Trump wanted to be the mediator to stop the war and spoke to Putin first. Instead of waiting for Trump to speak to him, egged on by EU leaders Zelensky started criticising Trump for not involving him in the talks. His remark “He should be on our side” demonstrated clearly that Zelensky had not understood the role of a mediator. His lack of political experience was the major reason for the fiasco in the White House and the subsequent actions of Trump clearly showed Zelensky where he stands! PM Starmer and President Macron seem to have given some sensible advice and he seems to be eating humble pie. In the process Trump has ensured that the European nations pay for their defence than piggy-backing on the US, which I am sure would please the American voter. By the way, though Macron talks big about defence France spends less than 2% of GDP. Trump seems vindicated. Of course, Trump could be blamed for being undiplomatic but he can afford to be as he has the upper hand!

Ranil on Al Jazeera

Zelensky has shown what not to do: instead of being diplomatic being aggressive when you need favours! Meanwhile, Ranil has shown what not to do when it comes to TV interviews. God only knows who advised him, and why, for him to go ‘Head to Head’ with Mehdi Hasan on Al-Jazeera. Perhaps, he wanted to broadcast to the world that he was the saviour of Sri Lanka! The experienced politician he is, one would have expected Ranil to realise that he would be questioned about his role in making Sri Lanka bankrupt as well, in addition to raising other issues.

The interview itself was far from head to head; more likely heads to head! It turned out to be an inquisition by Tiger supporters and the only person who spoke sense being Niraj Deva, who demonstrated his maturity by being involved in British and EU politics. The worst was the compere who seems keen to listen his own voice, reminding me of a Sinhala interviewer on a YouTube channel whose interviews I have stopped watching!

Ranil claims, after the interview was broadcast, that it had been heavily edited reduced from a two-hour recording. Surely, despite whatever reason he agreed to, he should have laid ground rules. He could have insisted on unedited broadcast or his approval before broadcast, if it was edited. It was very naïve of Ranil to have walked in to a trap for no gain. Though his performance was not as bad as widely reported, he should have been more composed at the beginning as he turned out to be later. Overall, he gave another opportunity for the Tiger rump and its supporters to bash Sri Lanka, unfortunately.

Medhi Hasan should watch some of David Frost interviews, especially the one with Richard Nixon, and learn how to elicit crucial information in a gentle exploratory manner than shouting with repeated interruptions. He does not seem to think it is necessary to give time for the interviewee to respond to his questions. I will never watch Al-Jazeera’s “Head to Head” again!

Ranil’s best was his parting shot; when asked by Hasan whether he would contest the next presidential election, he said “No, I will retire and watch Al-Jazeera and hope to see you better mannered”!

Opinion

Ajahn Brahm to visit SL in May 2025

Published

5 days ago

2025/03/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Ajahn Brahm Society of Sri Lanka (ABSSL) is pleased to announce that Ajahn Brahm will be visiting Sri Lanka for a short stay in May this year. Many, both Buddhists and non-Buddhists, know him and have listened to his addresses made on earlier visits, including his 2023 public talk at the BMICH, which was attended by over 4,000 people.

Ajahn Brahmavamso, popularly known as Ajahn Brahm, is the Head Abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery in Serpentine, Perth. He was a pupil of the famous Thai forest monk Ajahn Chah, considered the best Theravada meditation teacher in the last century. By his own choice, Ajahn Brahmavamso shortened his name and was extra pleased that the initials represent the major religions of the world. He is renowned world-wide as an outstanding meditation bhikkhu, teacher and instructor, guiding thousands of practitioners.

As in previous visits, Ajahn Brahm’s schedule will be packed with addresses, meetings with senior professionals, business leaders, and researchers. This year, a special session has been included for teenagers and young adults.

The agenda planned for him includes:

Public address at the BMICH to all irrespective of religion and age; then to a younger audience.

· Exclusive Leadership Forum for senior professionals and business leaders.

· Forum with academics engaged in research at the Centre for Meditation Research, University of Colombo.

· A week-long meditation retreat for the Ven Sangha and experienced lay meditators.

Public Addresses

The public addresses will be on Sunday, May 18, 2025, from 7:00 am to 11:00 am, at the BMICH Main Hall and Sirimavo Halls; Ajahn Brahm moving from one hall to another so the entire audience sees him. Each hall will be well equipped with audio and video presentation. The first address: The Art of Meaningful Living, is designed for all, age notwithstanding, offering wisdom and practical insights for a fulfilling life. The second: Coping with Life Transitions and Emotional Challenges, is a special session tailored for teens and young adults, addressing key challenges faced by them in today’s fast-paced, competitive world. Both talks will be in English, with concise translation to Sinhala by Ven Damita Thera.

Exclusive Forums

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, two exclusive forums will be held at the BMICH Committee Room, Jasmine Hall. The first such session will be with eighty invited Sri Lankan academics and scientists engaged in research on meditation at the Centre for Meditation Research of the University of Colombo. This will be followed in the evening by an interactive session for a hundred invited senior professionals and business leaders, featuring a talk on leadership followed by a Q&A session.

Meditation Retreat

The most significant item on Ajahn Brahm’s programme will be a week-long meditation retreat at the Barberyn Waves Ayurveda Resort in Weligama. Focus is intended to be on the fifty members of the Ven Sangha. A limited number of experienced lay meditators will also have the opportunity to participate.

Participation & Registration

Those interested in attending the public talks at the BMICH are kindly advised to register at to secure free passes. For further information, please contact the Ajahn Brahm Society of Sri Lanka at .