President reiterates commitment to boost renewable energy

President Maithripala Sirisena reiterating his government’s commitment to develop sustainable energy sources said the country will take measures to achieve development through renewable energy generation.

Speaking at a religious ceremony held at the Bopitiya Siri Indrasabha Piriven Viharaya in Mathugama on Saturday, the President said several investors had shown interest in alternative power generation opportunities in Sri Lanka.

He said that in about three years’ time the country will encounter an electricity problem as the present power generation sources will not be able to supply the rising demand for electricity generation.

The President said a new national program will be implemented to generate electricity through natural resources to meet the present electricity crisis. At present, the government has paid attention to generate electricity using solar power.

“We are now looking at renewable energy generation using natural resources. We are now carrying out a speedy development project with solar energy,” the President said.

The government has also initiated a national program to plant 10 million Gliricidia tree saplings as the plant is very useful for generation of electricity, the President said. He said that several investors have shown interest in this initiative.

President Sirisena launched the program to plant Gliricidia Saplings Island wide from Trincomalee on Friday. 

Under the program small power plants fuelled by Gliricidia firewood will be set up in rural areas allowing the farmers to earn an additional income by planting Gliricidia.

Gliricidia, a widely cultivated multipurpose leguminous tree, grows rapidly and can be used as organic fertiliser and firewood. The President emphasised that the government during the last 20 months was dedicated to develop the country transforming economic and political structure in the country. He said the government’s aim is to march forward as a strong and independent country.

Speaking further, the President said the official ceremony to celebrate United Nations International Wesak Day will be held in Sri Lanka on 13 May, next year on a grand scale. State leaders of Buddhist countries in the world will participate in the ceremony.

The President said measures will be taken to make Sri Lanka the centre for disseminating Theravada Buddhism to the world in parallel to the International Wesak Day celebrations.