News
SL will commence exporting smart meters this year: Minister Alahapperuma
Minister Alahapperuma inspects the system control at the Ante LECO factory, also in the picture Power and Energy Ministry Secretary Wasantha Perera
By Ifham Nizam
Sri Lanka should be able to dream and realise her dreams; and in so doing, she faced many social and economic challenges, Power and Energy Minister Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday said when he visited Ante LECO Suhuru Manu factory in Bandaragama.
Ante LECO Metering Company (Pvt) Ltd. is a subsidiary of LECO, where 70 per cent of the shares are owned by LECO and 30% by Ante Meter Company Ltd. of China. This is the only Energy Meter Manufacturing Company here and it will supply the total requirement of household electricity meters to the Ceylon Electricity Board and LECO -Lanka Electricity Company.
Since January 2018, Ante LECO has expanded its operations to produce smart meters for the local market here. Its smart meter has been tested and certified by KEMA Laboratory, in the Netherlands.
Minister Alhapperuma said LECO had a unique identity among the state institutions. “As the head of the Electricity family, I am very happy about that. As a vital sector, our biggest challenge is to ensure that the country’s power needs are met so that its development goals can be achieved. It has been almost three decades since the smart meter arrived in Sri Lanka. The world is moving fast.”
Alahapperuma said that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had opened the Ante LECO factory at a time when the country was fighting a war against terrorism. “Today, we should express our gratitude to him for that. As a government, we seek to create a Sri Lanka free from fossil fuel by tapping renewable energy.
The Minister also stressed that the technical challenge of storing energy generated from renewable sources would be handed over to LECO. “This institution was established in 2008 on a concept of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a solution to the electricity meter crisis here. The company first started producing electro mechanical meters in 2008. Then in 2014 the company took it to the next level and started manufacturing electronic gauges. In 2017 the company was transformed into a smart meter factory.
“This enabled CEB to produce the required meters and more than 40% of the total meter production process commenced. The company aims to complete the entire gauge manufacturing process in the country this year and export our products to foreign countries, becoming a competitive international gauge manufacturer.”
Wasantha Perera, Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy, Athula de Silva, Attorney-at-Law, Chairman of LECO, Dr. Narendra de Silva, General Manager, Ceylon Electricity Board and Nalinda Illangakoon, Deputy Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board were also present on the occasion.
Prime Munister Dr Harini Amarasuriya returned to the island this (23rd) morning after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
The Sri Lanka Navy successfully conducted a diving operation on 19 Jan 26 to inspect and restore the sluice gate of the Bomburuella Reservoir.
Acting on a request from the Department of Irrigation, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed a specialized diving team from the Western Naval Command, for the urgent requirement.
Through concerted effort, the Navy divers successfully cleared accumulated debris, including a significant quantity of wooden fragments, which had impeded the sluice gate mechanism.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya held a series of high-level bilateral meetings on Wednesday [January 21] on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, engaging with representatives of the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, and the global private sector.
The Prime Minister met with Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management. During the meeting, she expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for the support extended by the European Union and its member states following Cyclone Ditwa. The Prime Minister also briefed the Commissioner on the key findings of the World Bank’s GRADE report and requested continued EU support for Sri Lanka’s development and recovery efforts.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with Alexander De Croo, representing the United Nations Development Programme. She expressed appreciation for the longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and the United Nations and acknowledged the UN’s support in flood relief and livelihood assistance. The Prime Minister noted that, following the mandate received at the parliamentary election, the government is focused on meeting public expectations through national rebuilding grounded in public trust and good governance. She further reaffirmed the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening social protection systems and safeguarding vulnerable communities.
In addition, the Prime Minister met with Robert M. Uggla, Chairman of A.P. Moller Holding. The discussion focused on engagement with the private sector and potential areas of collaboration.
These meetings reflected Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with international partners and global stakeholders to support recovery, development, and long-term economic stability.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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