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Eminent scientist says SL consumers unlikely to see benefits of going green sans independent regulation
In the renewables sector
by Ifham Nizam
Sri Lanka’s energy sector needs major revision based on a plan to ensure there are no black or grey areas, and there is stability in the grid to take renewables at scale, says a top Sri Lankan scientist based in the United Kingdom.
“I believe it is entirely possible for Sri Lanka to move towards 50% solar within a decade with the help of policymakers in terms of a credible master plan integrated to the country’s energy needs”, said Professor Ravi Silva, Director, Advanced Technology Institute at the University of Surrey, who has been awarded a CBE for his services to Science, Education and Research.
CBE (Commander of the British Empire) is the highest ranking Order of the British Empire award, followed by OBE and MBE. It ranks just below a knighthood or dame-hood.
The son of Roland Silva, a former Commissioner of Archaeology in Sri Lanka, the eminent scientist stressed the need for consistency in government policy and alignment of all stakeholders to achieve a common objective or goal such as a realistic 70% renewables target, which includes hydro.
For private sector involvement, there needs to be a clear and transparent framework. This will encourage FDI in the renewables sector, particularly with potential changes to the current electricity and regulation acts. Without independent regulation in the sector, it is difficult to envisage the consumers seeing the benefits of going green, the professor said in an email interview with The Sunday Island.
“Maybe an independent PPP for a one-stop-shop for investment in the power sector may open the doors for more private sector involvement with FDI”, he suggested.
Prof. Silva further said that Sri Lanka, as an island, is blessed with a wonderful geology with central hills surrounded by plains extending to the sea. There is also significant rainfall and a well developed hydroelectricity system in the country, with already established dams to store water that can be converted to electricity.
As a country situated close to the equator, Sri Lanka enjoys maximum solar irradiation that potentially provide all energy needs with a combination of solar, wind and pumped hydroelectricity as storage to run base load, he noted.
At prevailing market costs, solar is provided to major facilities at less than two US cents per kWhr by companies such as ‘8 Minutes’. There is no reason to stick to fossil fuels that harm the environment and costs more to the consumer in the longer term, he continued.
Prof. Silva said he delivered a talk to the National Trust in July 2019 on: “Clean, Green and Free: Solar Electricity for 2035”; where it was shown that with the help of minimal disturbance to human settlements, a distributed network of 10 solar farms of around 200MW each, (taking up in total of 100 acres) can power the nation with the help of the existing hydroelectricity network (this was based on the peak energy demand of 2016 of 2453 MW).
The idea is that pumped hydro can be used to ensure the base load is covered, and there is enough solar/renewable capacity to fit the peak power demand during the day via the solar installations, he remarked.
“My talk to the National Heritage Trust in Colombo in July 2019 was based on preserving the “heritage” of free light from the sun to the people of Sri Lanka so they can enjoy their rights much like the vistas of stupas and archaeological sites given to us by our forefathers. I strongly believe we are defined by the unique culture to which we have been born and blessed in Mother Lanka”, he noted.
“As a product of D. S. Senanayake College, I passionately believe in “country before self”, much like many of my brothers at DSS and all citizens”, he emphasized.
On Covid-19, Prof. Silva said, “Sri Lanka can define its destiny and come out of the pandemic stronger and more self-sufficient if we all believe in our nation, and develop our available resources with Sri Lankan ingenuity that exists in all sectors. We must believe and trust in evidence-based decision-making, and place faith in our industry to bring high-value products through science and technology to the markets.
“We must be proud to wear the “Made in Sri Lanka” label on both consumables and technology, and help build a better and more sustainable world for the generations to come”, he added.
Professor Silva was honored with a CBE for his outstanding services to Science, Education and Research over the past three decades with contributions that cut across the world.
CBE is awarded to individuals for playing a prominent role at national level, or a leading role at regional level and also for distinguished and innovative contribution to any area.
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PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC is not bound by recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, or presidential directives in that regard, according to authoritative sources.
They said that the AG couldn’t under any circumstances initiate legal proceedings until he had received the full PCoI report.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the PCoI report on Feb 1. The President’s Office delivered a set of PCoI reports to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Feb 23, a day after the report was presented to the cabinet of ministers. The Island raised the matter with relevant authorities in the wake of a section of the media reporting the PCoI recommending punitive measures against former President Maithripala Sirisena, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, Chief of State Intelligence Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Chief of National Intelligence retired DIG Sisira Mendis and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Rishad Bathiudeen et al over the Easter Sunday carnage.
Sources pointed out that due to the inordinate delay in sharing the PCoI report with the AG, the department hadn’t been able to take preliminary measures required to initiate the proceedings. Sources said that a team of officers would take at least six weeks or more to examine the report before tangible measures could be taken.
With the AG scheduled to retire on May 24, 2021, even if the AG Department received the P CoI it would be quite a tough task to initiate proceedings ahead of retirement, sources said. However, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in last October, both the AG and the IGP could receive extensions beyond 60 at the President’s discretion.
Dappula de Livera received an Acting appointment as the AG a week after the Easter Sunday carnage whereas his predecessor Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was elevated to Chief Justice.
Responding to another query, sources said that the Attorney General two weeks ago requested Secretary to the President for a copy of the P CoI. However, the AG was yet to receive one, sources said. In spite of the AG not receiving a P CoI copy, the AG had instructed the IGP to obtain a copy of the report when he requested the police to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage. The AG issued specific instructions after having examined police files pertaining to the investigations.
The IGP, too, hadn’t received a copy so far though some sections of the report were in the public domain.
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage displayed at a live political programme on Derana a copy of the P CoI report he received at the cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department couldn’t decide on a course of action in respect of the Easter carnage on the basis of a section of the report. In terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Section 24), the AG enjoyed significant powers/authority in respect of investigations; sources said adding that the Department urgently required both the P CoI report and police investigations report. The Attorney General’s Department has raised the delay in receiving a P CoI report amidst the Catholic Church attacking the government over the same issue.
Sources said that ministerial committee appointed to study the P CoI report couldn’t decide on how to proceed with the recommendations and the matter was entirely in the hands of the AG. Sources pointed out that the delay on the part of the government to release the report had received the attention of sections of the international media, including the New York Times. Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera having met Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Bishop’s House on Dec 8, 2020 said that the AG would get a copy of the P CoI report once the President received it. Minister Weerasekera said that the CID had handed over the relevant files after having completed investigations into eight blasts. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on the Easter Sunday carnage, the former Navy Chief of Staff said that all such documents would have to be brought to one place and considered before initiating legal proceedings. Acknowledging that there could be delays, lawmaker Weerasekera said that on the instructions of the Attorney General a 12-member team of lawyers was working on the case. The minister vowed to expose the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Investigations continued while some of those wanted were overseas, the minister said.
The minister acknowledged that the Attorney General couldn’t proceed without the P CoI report. Minister Weerasekera reiterated that once the President received the P CoI report, it would be sent to the Attorney General. The minister said that there were documents two to three feet high that needed scrutiny. The minister assured comprehensive investigation. The minister said that investigations pertaining to eight blasts had been completed and the reports handed over to the AG. However, the Attorney General had found shortcomings in those investigations.
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By Saman Indrajith
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday bombings had failed to identify the mastermind of , the JVP said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that the PCoI report had levelled accusations against former President Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP and head of intelligence for their dereliction of duty, shirking of responsibilities and not taking action to prevent the attacks and negligence. There were reference to the causes of the terror attacks and actions to be taken to avoid such attacks and the influence of extremist organisations. “However, there is no mention of the mastermind of the attacks, the handlers of the attackers and those whose interests the carnage served. It is also not mentioned whether there has been any foreign or local organisation behind those attacks. As per the PCoI report the attack took place as a result of culmination of extremism.
“According to the PCoI the extremist activities were a result of the prevailing political situation then. The entire nation was waiting to see who was responsible and who masterminded those attacks. The PCoI has failed to identify the true culprits responsible for the terror attacks. The report says that the leader of the suicide cadres killed himself in the attacks and it was a puzzle. That means those who are actually responsible for the attacks are still at large. The report does not provide exact details of the sources of the attacks. The PCoI had sittings for one year and five months. It summoned various persons and got their statements but it has failed to shed any light on the terror attacks. Everybody knows that the top leaders of the government and heads of security and intelligence establishments failed in their duties. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the second in command and he too is bound by the responsibility but the PCoI report fails to identify him as one of the persons against whom legal action should be instituted. The PCoI has treated Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena differently. We are not telling that this report is a total failure but we cannot accept this as a complete report. The PCoI handed over its report to the President on Feb 1. After 23 days it was sent to Parliament. Now, a copy of the report is there in the parliamentary library for the perusal of MPs.”
Herath said that the PCoI did not have powers to take punitive action. “It only has powers to name those responsible and recommend action to be taken against those named.
