News

Transformative impacts and benefits for beneficiaries observed through introduction of RETs

Published

1 year ago

2025/02/16

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.

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News

FSP warns of possible coal shortage

Published

12 hours ago

2026/03/9

Thilina Walpola

“No shipment for 10 days; seas off western coast will become rough by April end”

Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Pubudu Jayagoda says the Indian company which secured a tender to supply coal for electricity generation this year has delivered only 13 of the 25 shipments required and no vessel has arrived in Sri Lanka for the last 10 days or so.

Jayagoda said so while addressing the media during a protest held in Colombo yesterday.

Jayagoda said the Indian company Trident Chemphar, which secured the tender to supply 25 coal shipments for 2026, had placed the country’s coal stocks at risk.

Although all 25 coal shipments are required to be unloaded before the end of April, only 13 vessels have arrived in Sri Lanka so far, according to Jayagoda. He also claimed that no shipment had arrived during the first week of March, adding that coal vessels had not arrived for about 10 days.

Jayagoda warned that the situation could endanger the country’s energy supply as the seas off the western coast usually turn rough by the end of April, disrupting unloading operations.

According to Jayagoda, a report submitted by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka to the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on infrastructure and strategic development, power cuts may become necessary from August even if the country falls short of five shipments unless electricity is generated using costly diesel-powered thermal plants.

Jayagoda also alleged irregularities in the tender process, claiming that the government had changed tender specifications and delayed the tender process by about four months, possibly to allow the Indian company time to register and secure performance guarantees.

He further alleged that the coal supplied by the Indian company was substandard.

Jayagoda questioned why the tender had not been cancelled despite several shipments allegedly failing to meet quality standards and why no investigation had been launched.He asked why legal action had not been taken against the company despite supply disruptions.

News

Repatriation of Iranian naval personnel Sri Lanka’s call: Washington

Published

12 hours ago

2026/03/9

Thilina Walpola

The US Department of State has said that Washington respects Sri Lanka’s sovereignty in handling matters relating to the Iranian warship IRIS Bushehr and its crew, according to agency reports, quoting a State Department Spokesperson. He has said the final decision regarding the vessel, its crew and the rescued Iranian sailors rests with Sri Lanka in accordance with its domestic laws and international legal obligations.

The statement follows comments by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath that Sri Lanka was looking after 32 sailors rescued from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena under Colombo’s international treaty obligations.

The frigate was sunk by a US submarine off Sri Lanka’s southern coast on Wednesday during escalating hostilities involving the United States and Iran.

Sri Lanka’s Navy conducted rescue operations, following the incident, recovering 84 bodies.

Asked whether Colombo was under US pressure not to repatriate the Iranian sailors, Herath said Sri Lanka had taken all actions in accordance with international law.

Sri Lanka also provided safe harbour to the second Iranian warship, IRIS Bushehr, and evacuated its 219 crew members a day after the Dena was torpedoed. The vessel was taken to the port of Trincomalee after reporting engine problems.

Citing an internal cable, Reuters reported that Washington had urged Sri Lanka not to repatriate the Iranian sailors. However, the State Department spokesperson reiterated that the disposition of the crew and survivors was a matter for Sri Lanka to decide, adding that the United States respects Sri Lanka’s sovereignty in managing the situation.

Meanwhile, India allowed a third Iranian warship, IRIS Lavan, to dock in a port on humanitarian grounds after it reported operational difficulties.

The ship docked at the port of Kochi, where many of the crew, including young cadets, were disembarked and transferred to a nearby facility.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Colombo would follow the provisions of the Hague Convention, which requires neutral states to detain combatants of warring parties until the end of hostilities.

A senior administration official said Sri Lanka was in discussions with the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the treatment of survivors from the torpedoed vessel. International humanitarian law would apply to the wounded, who could be repatriated if they requested it, the official added.

Iranian diplomats in Colombo have requested the return of the remains of sailors killed in the attack to Iran.

News

Indian Ocean must remain peace zone: Sajith

Published

13 hours ago

2026/03/9

Thilina Walpola

Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, emphasised the critical need for the Indian Ocean region to remain peaceful and not become part of any conflict, said a news report published by NDTV yesterday.

It said: As the Iran-Israel war enters its second week, the theatre of the war has expanded dramatically, reaching the waters of Sri Lanka. With the sinking of Iranian warship IRIS Dena in international waters off Lanka’s coast and the docking of a second Iranian vessel, IRIS Busheher, Colombo has become embroiled in a conflict where it seeks to remain only a neutral bystander.

Speaking with NDTV, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka emphasised the critical need for the Indian Ocean region to remain peaceful and not become part of any conflict.

“The Indian Ocean has on successive occasions been declared a peaceful area and should remain so,” said Premadasa.

The Sri Lankan government has said that it will attend to all survivors of the ill-fated IRIS Dena and IRIS Busheher as per international protocols and norms. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said his country had a “humanitarian responsibility” to take in the crew of the vessel, which was allowed to dock at Trincomalee in Northern Sri Lanka.

Premadasa, who is the leader of the opposition party SJB, called on all parties to cease the ‘asymmetric warfare’. He cautioned that the widening conflict would have devastating consequences for smaller countries like Sri Lanka, which is still reeling from its worst economic crisis in 2022.

“The Middle East conflict is already spreading to other countries, and this is having an impact on Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan people,” Mr Premadasa told NDTV.

A third Iranian vessel that was in the Indian Ocean, IRIS Lavan, has docked at Kochi in India. India has said it was a “humanitarian call” after the vessel sent out a distress call.