News
Target of electricity from renewable energy not realistic – engineers
By Ifham Nizam
The government’s decision to increase the supply of electricity from renewable energy to the National Grid by 70 percent in 2030 was not practical and that would in turn lead to blackouts by 2024, due to the non-implementation of projects, the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union said.
CEBEU President Eng. Saumya Kumarawadu told The Island that 70 percent renewable intake was not practical and they would bring it to the notice of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, again.
He said that former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to halt the 500MW in Sampur, Trincomalee, and had caused huge losses in billions of rupees.
He also said that what they had stated was clean energy 70 percent. “We should decide on the structures and achieve the targets without allowing advisors and renewable lobbies to decide on the power intake,” he added.
The CEBEU Chief said that they had informed Power Minister Dullas Alhapperuma and Ministry Secretary Wasantha Perera that the move could cause a number of issues to the existing and future projects.
A senior engineer told The Island even to achieve 50 percent renewable by 2030 Sri Lanka had to go well beyond targets and achievement of developed nations, particularly Germany.
The recommendations of the Special Committee appointed for accelerating renewable energy projects were approved by the Cabinet last week.
Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.
Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.
A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.
The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.
The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.
These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.
The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.
The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.
Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.
During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.
The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.
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