By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): In a decisive meeting held on Thursday, officials from both Sri Lanka and Japan held round table discussions to assess the status of ongoing electricity projects in Sri Lanka.
These projects, backed by both financial and technical support from the Japanese government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), play a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s energy sector.
Among those projects were the Project for Capacity Development on the Power Sector Master Plan Implementation Program (L) Habarana-Veyangoda Transmission Line Project (L) and the National Transmission and Distribution Network Development and Efficiency Improvement Project
Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera, elucidated the key points that were brought up during the discussions.
Primarily, officials reviewed the progress of existing projects and deliberated on how best to restart those that have been put on hold due to financial constraints.
With Sri Lanka experiencing economic challenges, the continuation of these power projects is essential for the country’s infrastructure and economic growth.
These projects, backed by both financial and technical support from the Japanese government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), play a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s energy sector.
The electricity sector projects in Sri Lanka, which were developed with the financial and technical assistance of the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), have been reviewed on Thursday (07), with the participation of both Japanese and Sri Lankan officials.
Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera stated that discussions were held regarding the ongoing project progress, recommencement of projects interrupted due to the financial crisis, future projects for renewable energy integration, technical assistance and technology for energy projects.
Meanwhile, assistance extended through the reform secretariat for Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) reforms, and future generation plans and government policies, have also been taken up for discussion during the meeting.
Another major highlight of the discussion was the exploration of upcoming projects concentrated on integrating renewable energy.
The emphasis on renewable energy underlines both countries’ commitment to a sustainable future, resonating with global trends shifting away from non-renewable energy sources.
Moreover, the potential technical assistance and technology exchange for energy projects further signify Japan’s continued commitment to fostering development in Sri Lanka’s power and energy sectors.
The dialogue also encompassed broader structural considerations. Officials deliberated on support offered via the reform secretariat for the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) impending reforms.
This emphasizes the drive to not only implement projects but also improve the underlying infrastructure and framework within which these projects operate.
These reforms, coupled with discussions around upcoming generation plans and government policies, highlight a comprehensive approach to address both current and future challenges in the electricity sector. The collaboration between the two countries seems poised to shape a robust and sustainable power landscape for Sri Lanka
