Posted by superadmin in Latest News
“No more talks on waste …………………..”
Minister Dullas expressed relieving the country from the menace of waste…..
10MW of electricity daily from 700 tonnes of waste.
Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma stated that “We have become an eye witness before another progressive feature of the electricity sector of Sri Lanka. For the first time, today we start generating power by burning waste. This is a turning point in the power revolution. Today we are not only empowering the national grid, but also it will be added to the annals of the history a giant step realizing he dream of an eco-friendly smart country. Please don’t consider this plant just a 10MW power plant. Today we are taking a giant step relieving this country from the menace of waste.”
Hon. Minister expressed these ideas participating at a ceremony of opening of the first power plant on generating power and vesting with the public. Hon. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa graced this occasion held this morning (17) as the Prime Minister.
It is expected to add 10 MW of power to the national grid using 700 tonnes of waste and this power plant is functioning out of the waste provided by Colombo Municipal Council. Pursuant to the vistas of prosperity establishment of these power plants enhances contribution towards the renewable energy whilst they could be introduced as a smart solution for the problem of waste in Sri Lanka.
Hon. Minister further stated that “At the outset of the 21st century we had only hydro power and power generated burning fossils. However, it has been drastically changed when we step in to the third decade of the 21st century. Late Mr. J.R.Jayawardane was a leader who made a number of progressive decisions in respect of the power sector in Sri Lanka. Our present Prime Minister Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa is a leader who has gone far beyond that. Today his name has been included in the annals of our history with the introduction of waste to energy strategy today. In addition, with the opening of the first LNG power plant on 05th March in Kerawalapitiya will also bring fame on him.
The CEB made the decision of paying per unit more than the amount being paid for diesel with much difficulty. The CEB didn’t think about the price at that moment and thought it as a national responsibility. Hence, the honour of this accomplishment directly goes to the CEB. Three parties are the stakeholders of this. They are the government, private entities and Local Authorities. A political culture which is not tribally or primarily discriminated at a national crisis has to be created within a country. The dream of HE the President is to make the country free of garbage and waste and there should be a future vision for this country beyond that.
This week is a significant week in the power sector of this country. Cabinet approval was received on 15th to establish 7000 mini solar power plants in Sri Lanka. Today; 17th is the first day that a waste project is vested with the public. Tomorrow, the international tender on supply of natural gas will be opened. Obviously this is a different kind of week which is written in gold in our history. Necessary arrangements have been made to hand over the first project on generating power to the general public on 01st October and make Matara; home town of HE the President and Hon. Prime Minister, the first green city in Sri Lanka. The Minister further said that as a country we should remove tinted glasses and should go forward integrating all the technologies”.
This event was held under the patronage of the Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera- Minister of Environment, Hon. C.B. Rathnayaka- Minister of Wildlife and Wild Conservation, Hon. Duminda Dissanayake – State Minister of Solar Power, Wind and Hydro Power Generation Projects Development , Hon. Nalaka Godahewa – State Minister of Urban Development, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness, Hon. Seetha Arambepola – State Minister of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation, Hon. Nimal Lansa – State Minister of Rural Roads and other Infrastructure, Mr. Roshan Gunathilaka- Governor of Western Province, Mrs. Rosy Senanayaka – Mayor of Colombo , Mr. Harry Jayawardena – Aitken Spence Company, Mrs. Wasantha Perera – Secretary, Ministry of Power , Mr. Vijitha Herath – Chairman-CEB and Senior Officers of relevant institutes participated at this event.
