Sri Lanka is steadily moving toward a green economy, but a shortage of sustainable finance is hampering progress, according to Environment Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala. Speaking at the launch of the AgriFI Sri Lanka Country Window, hosted by the European Union delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Uduwawala emphasized the Government’s strong commitment to inclusive and environmentally friendly development.

He pointed to a range of national policies designed to promote renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and circular economy practices. However, he acknowledged that a lack of financial backing is slowing their implementation. “The Green Sri Lanka initiative is more than just ambition—it’s a strategic vision to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility,” he stated.

Uduwawala stressed that the green transition cannot succeed in isolation. It requires comprehensive financial mechanisms and collaboration across multiple sectors, including private and public institutions, agriculture, SMEs, and both local and international regulatory bodies. Although Sri Lanka has introduced several frameworks, including the National Environmental Action (NEA) Plan, the Net Zero 2050 strategy, and the Green Procurement Policy, many remain underfunded and thus are limited in impact.

The country’s ongoing debt crisis and broader financial instability were cited as key obstacles. These issues have significantly restricted investments in environmental initiatives and limited access to domestic funding. Additional challenges include institutional inefficiencies and policy uncertainty, though the Government is working to address these shortcomings.

Uduwawala commended the European Union for its continued support through the Green Policy Dialogue Facility (GPDF), established in 2022. The initiative aims to integrate inclusive green economy goals into the national governance and economic framework by fostering policy development, improving the investment climate for circular industries, and expanding access to green finance. However, he maintained that this support, while valuable, remains insufficient to fully meet Sri Lanka’s needs.

The Secretary also expressed optimism about Sri Lanka’s potential to serve as a model for resilient, low-carbon economic growth. He highlighted the need for investments in innovation, SMEs, and sustainable industries to realize this goal. Strengthening macroeconomic indicators is essential to attracting investment, and remains a top Government priority.

Uduwawala urged financial institutions, private sector players, and development partners to embrace an integrated investment approach. He emphasized that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles should be embedded in all financial decisions to foster long-term, responsible economic development. Aligning with global ESG standards would also attract more investment in clean energy and eco-friendly industries.

Finally, he pointed out a significant skills gap in technical expertise among local stakeholders. He stressed the importance of knowledge sharing and stronger public-private partnerships in driving the country’s green economy vision forward. Uduwawala concluded by calling for collective action and innovative ideas to translate environmental goals into tangible, sustainable progress.

As of April 21, 2025, Sri Lanka’s Norochcholai Power Plant is back to full capacity, with all three generator units operational. This follows a temporary shutdown of one unit during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays due to lower electricity demand.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) confirmed the reactivation of the final unit at 11:00 a.m., in response to a noticeable increase in nationwide power usage after the festive season.

During the holidays, the CEB prioritized hydro and renewable energy sources, leading to the temporary suspension of thermal plants, including the Norochcholai and Kelanitissa Naphtha power plants.

As part of this strategy, a renewable energy curtailment program began on April 10 to maintain grid stability. Initially scheduled to end at 3:00 p.m. on April 21, the program was lifted early—on April 20—due to the unexpected surge in electricity demand.

CEB spokesman, Engineer Dhammika Wimalaratne, acknowledged the valuable cooperation of nearly 100,000 solar power providers, including domestic rooftop users and commercial producers.

Their compliance in adjusting power output during the holidays played a critical role in maintaining the grid’s stability. On April 13, the CEB even advised rooftop solar unit owners to pause generation during daylight hours, with systems over 100 kilowatts temporarily disconnected through SMS notification.

Despite the smooth resumption of full operations, the Norochcholai plant faces safety concerns. Reports indicate that the plant’s fire department ceased operations on April 1, after contract expirations were not renewed.

In the absence of trained fire personnel, firefighting responsibilities have been passed on to general plant staff. Experts view this as a potentially hazardous move, especially considering the plant’s scale and technical complexity.

Nevertheless, with hydropower generation still limited due to inadequate rainfall, Norochcholai remains a cornerstone in Sri Lanka’s energy infrastructure. The timely reactivation of all three units marks a crucial step in ensuring a stable power supply during the post-holiday demand spike.

The CEB concluded its statement by reiterating gratitude to solar energy contributors and the general public for their role in preserving national energy stability during a period of strategic power management and operational challenges.

Every year, millions of people across the globe gather to mark Earth Day and celebrate the environmental movement.

The event began in 1970 in the United States, and is now marked around the world.

What is Earth Day and when is it?

Earth Day is a global event which aims to highlight the importance of protecting the environment.

It takes place annually on 22 April.

It was set up in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson, a US senator and environmentalist, and Denis Hayes, a graduate student at Harvard University.

Both had growing concerns about environmental damage in the US, such as that caused by a large oil spill in 1969 in Santa Barbara, California.

They came up with Earth Day as a way to engage the public and push green issues to the national agenda.

The first Earth Day saw 20 million people across the US take to the streets.

It became a global event in 1990, and now involves more than one billion people of all ages in nearly 200 countries, according to organisers.

“Celebrating Earth Day is often the first environmental action for a lot of people,” said Earthday.org president, Kathleen Rogers.

• A simple guide to climate change
• How the largest environmental movement in history was born

What is happening for Earth Day 2025?

The official theme for 2025, “Our Power, Our Planet”, focuses on renewable energy.

Previous events have covered a range of environmental issues, including climate change, plastic pollution and species protection.

This year, the organisers are calling for worldwide electricity generation from renewable sources – such as wind and solar – to triple by 2030.

This is similar to a pledge agreed at the COP28 global climate conference in 2023 to triple the capacity of renewables by 2030.

Renewables have been growing quickly, but are slightly off track to meet that promise, the International Energy Agency said in October.

Earth Day sees various local events take place in addition to the official theme, such as clean-ups of beaches, rivers and other spaces

What has Earth Day achieved?

Within a few years of the first Earth Day in 1970, the US Environmental Protection Agency had been set up, and several environmental laws – such as the Clean Air Act – had been established or significantly strengthened.

More recent events have included planting hundreds of millions of trees, supporting farmers with sustainable agriculture practices, and starting climate literacy projects around the world.

Some observers also cite the importance of Earth Day in pushing environmental issues back up national and international agendas.

“With a host of issues driving our environmental challenges down society’s priority list, events like Earth Day remind us of the long-term cost of short-termism,” said Yvo de Boer, former UN climate chief.

In 2016, Earth Day was symbolically chosen for the official signing of the landmark Paris climate accord, which had been agreed in late 2015.

It was the first time that countries of the world had collectively agreed targets to try to limit global warming.

• What is the Paris climate agreement?

What do critics say about Earth Day?

Some critics warn that these achievements give a false sense of progress.

Many environmental indicators – from global temperatures to species extinctions – are changing rapidly due to human activities. Efforts to date have fallen far short of halting or reversing these trends.

Some individuals and companies have also been accused of using Earth Day as an opportunity to misleadingly promote their environmental credentials, without making the real changes that are needed.

This is known as “greenwashing”.

For example, campaigner Greta Thunberg posted in 2022 that Earth Day “has turned into an opportunity for people in power to post their ‘love’ for the planet, while at the same time destroying it at maximum speed”.

“We all know greenwashing is happening and it is infuriating,” Earth Day organiser Ms Rogers told BBC News.

“It’s not an issue we’ve caused, but we know Earth Day is used cynically by some businesses to [mis]use the ethos of sustainability for their own gain.”

“Governments need to take robust action and crack down on any business or industry lying to consumers.”

BBC

Medical authorities have reported an increase in diarrhea cases among children during the recent hot weather, with a rise in dehydration linked to both diarrhea and high temperatures.

Health specialists attribute the situation partly to an increase in flies during this period, which is contributing to the spread of infections.

Parents and caregivers are advised to ensure children remain hydrated. Natural fluids such as lemon juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice, tangerine juice, and clean water are recommended.

Medical professionals warn that untreated dehydration in children may lead to serious health risks.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that Sri Lanka’s Treasury is expected to record its highest-ever revenue in 2025. The government plans to allocate these funds entirely to national development projects aimed at enhancing the country’s resilience to global challenges.

The announcement was made during a public rally held in Dambulla on April 20.

According to the President’s Office, the 2025 National Budget includes a development allocation of Rs. 1,400 billion, marking the largest investment in development in Sri Lanka’s history.

The government has also outlined public sector reforms, including an increase in minimum salaries for public servants and measures to eliminate political interference in state-sector appointments.

The statement also referenced global economic pressures, noting the potential impact of U.S. tariffs, while affirming the government’s commitment to economic stability and growth.

Fairly heavy falls about 75 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central Uva, Eastern, Northern and North-central provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur in Western province and in Galle, Matara and Puttalam districts in the morning too.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces and in Ampara district during the morning.