Step Up for Nature: Why Sri Lanka’s Private Sector Must Join Forces for Biodiversity!

As the world faces accelerating climate change, dwindling resources, and increasing social expectations, traditional business models are quickly becoming obsolete. Sustainability is no longer just an ethical choice—it’s essential for long-term success and resilience of the business environment. Today’s forward-thinking businesses understand that responsible resource management isn’t just about survival; it’s about thriving in a future where environmental and social risks will shape the market. While many global companies have made strides by setting sustainability goals and improving supply chains, the urgency of the climate crisis shows that progress must be faster and more impactful. Now, sustainability isn’t just a trend—it’s the new standard for global competitiveness and innovation.

With Sri Lanka’s natural resources under increasing pressure, businesses have a huge role to play in preserving the island’s stunning biodiversity. While traditionally seen as the responsibility of governments and NGOs, protecting our environment is no longer a side issue for companies—it’s becoming essential for the long-term success of local enterprises. Established

Established in 2012 by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce as the Sri Lanka Business and Biodiversity Platform, and then incorporated as Biodiversity Sri Lanka, BSL is a unique private-sector-driven network that provides the perfect opportunity for Sri Lankan companies to step up, make a difference, and be recognised as sustainability leaders.

Boosting your CSR Impact

Consumers and investors are now evaluating companies not just on profits but on their contribution to social and environmental good. According to a recent Deloitte survey, 58% of consumers now actively seek companies that align with their values, including sustainability. Biodiversity Sri Lanka offers a platform where businesses can channel their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts into impactful biodiversity projects, such as the ongoing Life to Our Forests initiative in Kanneliya, which focuses on restoring Sri Lanka’s forests, one of the most biodiverse areas in the country.

Joining Biodiversity Sri Lanka lets your company align with crucial conservation goals while enhancing your CSR footprint. Whether it’s sponsoring tree planting initiatives, protecting mangroves, or financing wildlife conservation, you’ll be directly involved in projects that make a difference.

Enhancing ESG Credentials

The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are increasingly influencing investment decisions. Studies show that companies with strong ESG practices tend to outperform their peers financially. In fact, firms with higher ESG ratings have 28% higher returns compared to those lagging behind, according to a report by McKinsey & Company. Biodiversity Sri Lanka can help Sri Lankan companies strengthen their ESG credentials by providing a structured approach to biodiversity conservation, complete with measurable impacts and international visibility.

For instance, by participating in Biodiversity Sri Lanka-led initiatives like wetland conservation or agroforestry projects, businesses can showcase tangible contributions to biodiversity in their sustainability reports, appealing to both investors and eco-conscious consumers.

A Global Network of Expertise

Biodiversity Sri Lanka is not just a local initiative—it’s connected to global giants like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity (GPBB). These partnerships bring international expertise, funding opportunities, and innovative ideas to Sri Lanka’s biodiversity conservation landscape while focusing on scientific approaches.

When your company joins Biodiversity Sri Lanka, you tap into this wealth of knowledge and collaboration, gaining access to resources and strategies that align with global best practices. Whether it’s sustainable agriculture, waste management, or climate change adaptation, Biodiversity Sri Lanka provides the tools, expertise, and networks to help businesses succeed in sustainability efforts.

Working to Achieve Global Goals

Sri Lanka is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and has committed to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Private sector engagement is critical for achieving these ambitious biodiversity targets, particularly in protecting ecosystems, restoring habitats, and halting species loss. Biodiversity Sri Lanka actively aligns its work with these international frameworks, giving companies an easy entry point to contribute to global biodiversity and sustainability goals.

By joining Biodiversity Sri Lanka, your company will be part of a movement that is driving positive change locally while contributing to global initiatives like the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

How You Can Join Hands with BSL

Biodiversity Sri Lanka offers flexible opportunities for private sector engagement, recognising that every business has unique capabilities and interests. Here are a few ways for your business to contribute:

Many Biodiversity Sri Lanka members have been involved in supporting on-the-ground conservation work such as reforesting degraded lands, restoring mangrove ecosystems, and protecting wildlife corridors. For example, Biodiversity Sri Lanka’s mangrove restoration project is helping safeguard coastal ecosystems from erosion and climate change impacts.

While understanding the broad benefits of reversing the trend in environmental degradation, most companies are reluctant to begin intervening in natural ecosystem restoration as this requires specialised knowledge and long-term time involvement. BSL has recognised the fact that such businesses need technical support as well as assistance in liasing with government stakeholders. Using many years of experience in facilitating field-based interventions and leveraging on its strong relationship with the public sector in Sri Lanka, BSL has now packaged its field activities to offer the LIFE Series of projects to the private sector. The LIFE Series currently comprises of five pathways for corporate involvement in nature-positive environmental interventions at a national level:

1. Life to Our Forests (LOF) – Restoration of a degraded fern land in the Kanneliya Forest Reserve in collaboration with the Forest Department and IUCN with the objective of creating a legacy of conservation for generations to come by preserving the biodiversity of Sri Lanka’s rainforests.
2. Life to Our Mangroves (LOM) – Restoration of mangrove ecosystems to showcase private sector engagement in achieving national biodiversity conservation and climate action goals. This project promotes Accelerated Natural Regeneration of Mangroves (ANRM) to increase carbon sequestration and boost ecosystem services of degraded mangrove ecosystems in collaboration with Wayamba University and the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
3. Life to Our Coral Reefs (LOCR) – This is an initiative of Biodiversity Sri Lanka to showcase private sector commitment to conserve Sri Lanka’s blue resources. In collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Conservation, IUCN and the Blue Resources Trust, the project empowers local communities to adopt sustainable practices that safeguard vital ocean resources.
4. Life to Our Beaches (LOB) – By empowering local communities – particularly women – to take care of their beaches as a viable livelihood option, this project provides a pathway for the private sector to protect Sri Lanka’s shores with the support of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA).
5. Life to Our National Parks (LONP) – This is a collaborative initiative of Biodiversity Sri Lanka to showcase private sector engagement in enriching wildlife habitats. The project engages surrounding communities in the removal of Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) in national parks by supporting livelihoods that restore wildlife habitats. This is a collective effort of BSL and the Federation of Environmental Organisations (FEO) together with the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Biodiversity Sri Lanka encourages businesses to work closely with government agencies and NGOs through the LIFE Series of projects that focus on providing economic benefits to local communities while safeguarding natural ecosystems. This could include supporting rural livelihoods through sustainable farming initiatives, promoting eco-tourism, or funding biodiversity research.

With science and technology constantly evolving to monitor, report, and streamline environmental interventions, Biodiversity Sri Lanka provides capacity-building opportunities for businesses to learn how they can integrate biodiversity conservation into their operational practices. This is organized through the BSL Academy which organises workshops on sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly business models, biodiversity management, sustainability reporting, and so on.

Companies that join Biodiversity Sri Lanka can use their voice to advocate for better environmental policies, aligning with national efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka’s biodiversity laws and protection measures. As a well-respected entity by the Government, BSL has been advocating for more stringent policies to protect and conserve Sri Lanka’s natural resources.

Is Your Organisation Eligible?

Biodiversity Sri Lanka’s membership is open to any company that recognises the need for environmental sustainability and wants to be part of the solution in a pragmatic manner. The platform already includes some of the country’s leading corporates across industries like agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and finance. Becoming a member of Biodiversity Sri Lanka will provide the ideal platform for driving environmental impact and aligning with both local and global sustainability trends if your business:

• Relies on natural resources (e.g., agriculture, fisheries, forestry)
• Operates in sectors affected by environmental change (e.g., real estate, tourism)
• Has a large environmental footprint (e.g., manufacturing, transportation)
• Sees the potential for nature-based investments (e.g., banking, renewable energy, recycling)
• Seeks to improve its ESG ratings or CSR impact

It is Now Time to Act Together

In 2023, a UN report warned that without urgent action, one million species globally are at risk of extinction due to human activities, including habitat destruction and pollution. Sri Lanka is at a tipping point. Our forests are shrinking, coastal ecosystems are deteriorating, and climate change is intensifying the threats to biodiversity. We’ve already seen alarming declines in species like the Sri Lankan leopard and the purple-faced langur. But there is hope. By committing to biodiversity conservation through platforms like Biodiversity Sri Lanka, your company can be part of the solution. Don’t wait until it’s too late. The time for businesses to act is now. If you are a company operating in Sri Lanka looking to make a lasting difference while also improving your bottom line, joining Biodiversity Sri Lanka is the way forward. Join Biodiversity Sri Lanka today and help protect the natural world that sustains us all. Together, we can ensure that future generations inherit a country as rich in biodiversity as the one we’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy.

The Return of the Giants

We are delighted to announce that the ‘Elephant Gathering’ in Sri Lanka – a major attraction for wildlife enthusiasts – is now happening again in Minneriya National Park, after a lapse of some years. Popular among both national and international tourists, this annual gathering, usually occurring from July to October, sees smaller elephant herds from surrounding habitats congregate at Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks. This congregation, fuelled by the diminishing water and food resources in other areas, provides a spectacular sight as the elephants socialise, bathe, drink, feed and potentially find mates. Recognised as the sixth-largest animal gathering globally by Lonely Planet and acclaimed by BBC and CNN Travel, this natural phenomenon offers visitors a unique and memorable experience.

The Minneriya Tank or reservoir is situated in the North Central province. This huge, ancient, man-made reservoir covering 1890 hectares (4670 acres), was constructed by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD. This reservoir fills up during the North-East monsoon. As the rains cease and the dry season begins, the drought takes its toll, and the water in the reservoir starts to dry up. Although the reservoir shrinks dramatically, it never really runs dry. As the water recedes, it leaves behind fertile, moist soil, where lush grass quickly sprouts. This provides elephants with excellent and much sort-after nutritious food.

The Moragahakanda/Kalu-Ganga irrigation project was originally to supply water through a 24 km pipeline to the Hurulu Oya tank, and then distribute the water from there, to farmers in the North-Central province. Due to delays in completing the pipeline, it was decided a few years ago to divert the water to the Minneriya tank. Though many representations were made to the Government warning of the calamity that would befall the Gathering, the project was commissioned in 2018. 

Since then, the discharge of water into the Minneriya tank completely changed the natural rise and fall of water levels – consequently disrupting the gathering of wild elephants. “There is scientific and anecdotal evidence that very young calves were seen to be dying of malnutrition in Minneriya. Many adult elephants were in an emaciated condition due to poor sources of food. The elephant population in the lake field dropped from 389 to 50 over a period of six years,” says Elephant Ethologist and Lead of the National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation, Dr Sumith Pilapitiya. He made this observation based on a study carried out on the elephant population in the Minneriya National Park from 2016 to 2021.Dr Pilapitiya noted that in 2016, 389 elephants were recorded from the area; 402 elephants in 2017; 354 in 2018; 223 in 2019; 210 elephants in 2020; while only 20 were recorded in 2021. Further research undertaken by Dr Pilapitiya has shown that there is a definite correlation of the number of elephants and the water levels in the reservoir. He has shown that since the water from the Moragahakande dam was released to the Minneriya reservoir, there was a marked depletion of the number of elephants sighted.

Representations made to the Irrigation Department (ID) met with some understanding. On the one hand the environmentalists wanted the discharge of water into the Minneriya tank stopped, while on the other hand water was needed for irrigation. A dialogue was created between the environmental experts and the Irrigation Department to arrive at a compromise. A compromise was worked out and the water levels managed to some extent, and today we are fortunate enough to see the return of the Giants in MInneriya!   Coming soon….listen to Dr Pilapitiya tell us the story first hand…

Happy New Year! :)

Drought plays havoc

All nine provinces in the country are suffering from a severe drought due to insufficient rainfall. The government requests the residents in these areas to use water with much care and minimize wastage, especially due to the despite the little rainfall received in the past few weeks. The country’s drinking water crisis continues as storage levels of many tanks have dropped drastically. What is worse is that according to the Meteorological Department there will be no rain in these areas until October.

The latest data on electricity generation for 2016 and up to March 2017 released by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) shows the sharp impact of the drought on hydro electricity generation. By Q4 2016 and Q1 2017 reservoir levels were at their lowest in five years, and this has had a major impact on the cost of electricity generation as the CEB had to switch to thermal generation. At a higher cost. CEB hydropower generation in Q1 of this year (2017) was the lowest compared to Q1 of the past three years.

Since June/July, 2016 through to March 2017, electricity generation in all hydropower stations was halved (or more) due to the drought. On average every month, the top 6 largest hydropower plants were operating at a fraction of their full capacity.

Irrigation

Irrigation mainly for agriculture purpose has been highly affected by the drought and many agriculture farmers are finding it difficult to maintain their cultivations. Due to low production, vegetable prices have been rising over the time. According to Wasantha Bandara Palugaswewa, Director Irrigation, Water Management, and Training, Department of Irrigation, out of major tanks 73 have got only 15 per cent of overall capacity.

“We have completely cut down the water supply to paddy fields in drought affected areas at the moment,” Palugaswewa said. “We carefully manage water with the help of Sri Lanka Police and I hope we can save the crops,” he added.

Cultivations and farms

The prevailing dry weather conditions are severely damaging the crop production as well as the livestock industry in the country. The drought that lasted for nearly eight months has turned into a crisis situation for many cultivators as well as the farmers in affected areas.

For most of the farmers, it is the worst condition they have seen in decades. Survival has become their only goal as there is no sign of rain for months. Namal Karunarathne, National Organizer, All Ceylon Peasants’ Federation said, ” 118 District Secretariats have been affected by the drought. Areas like Vilachchiya in the North Central Province, which I have visited personally many cultivators are suffering without water even for their consumption like drinking, washing, and cooking. The situation in Ampara remains the same.

“Sri Lanka has enough rivers but we don’t utilize these rivers in a proper manner,” he added. “Many major rivers have been blocked to generate electricity, but what I suggest is generating electricity has many options but agriculture does not. So we should utilize our river water mainly for agriculture and find out alternatives to generate electricity,” Karunarathne said.

Dairy farmers

Not only cultivators but also dairy farmers have equally been affected, he further stated. Especially in areas like Trincomalee, Seruvila and Vilachchiya cattle do not have enough water to drink and some farmers have started selling their herd for meat since they do not have a way of providing food and water. “Dry weather has eliminated many grazing areas and also the government has restricted cattle from entering forest reserves which I think is not fair,” he said. These innocent dairy farmers and their cattle do not harm the forest. I think the government should call an emergency situation for this drought and seek international assistance and aid to stop people suffering.

However, a senior official from a leading dairy company, one of the country’s leading milk-based product manufacturer said they have not seen any decline in their milk supply. “Some of the small scale private milk collectors have stopped purchasing milk from dairy farmers and I do not know whether that is the reason for our supply to remain the same even in areas like Batticaloa, Anuradhapura and Ampara which are severely affected by the drought,” he added. “I think nowadays most of the dairy farmers do not send their cows to the jungle for grazing, but they provide food and water by themselves. So these cattle are not affected by the drought, he further stated.

Disaster management measures

We see a drastic change in the world’s climate and many forest covers having been cut down for various development purposes which lead to the long lasting droughts as well as the drop in ground water levels. According to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) data, more than one million people are suffering for nearly eight months in all the nine provinces in the country due to the ongoing dry weather. The government has already sanctioned more than Rs 40 million to District Secretaries mainly to address the drinking water issue. More than 6,000 tanks have been allocated in many different locations to provide clean drinking water to the affected communities.

Pradeep Kodippili, Assistant Director, NDMC said still some of the areas are not getting sufficient amount of drinking water. Within the 2-3 months we have provided 200 water bowsers and we have been providing them for some time, he added. The Northern Province is the worst affected and even most of the areas in the Eastern Province have not received rain.

Answering a question on whether there were any funds distributed among the affected residents he said funds had been distributed to farmers for their damaged crops for the eight months of drought. The Ministry of Disaster Management has established Disaster Management Units to coordinate ground level conditions. The drought has affected the whole economic situation in these areas Kodippili added. “I should say that the areas like Kalutara and Moneragala which were also affected by the drought have come out of danger as these areas have started experiencing sufficient rainfalls.

“And we are continuing our funding to provide drinking water to drought affected areas,” he said. We have enough funds allocated. We have provided a 24-hour service to the residents so that they can call us if they are in need of drinking water.

Drought mitigation projects

As a long-term measure the NDMC carries out drought mitigation projects which include rainwater harvesting projects and constructing irrigation wells. “We hope to expand our drought mitigation measures with more funds in the future,” Kodippili said. “The government is working on a project with the Arthur C. Clarke Centre for monitoring droughts and predicting them in the future.” he added.
Kodippili also said, “The people need to save water especially and they should properly utilize rain water. There should be a proper mechanism to protect the existing water bodies without getting contaminated.

The country also needs new policies or revise the existing ones in order to face disasters such as droughts.”

Global climate is changing rapidly resulting in many natural disasters in various parts of the world.

As a country with a proud history of being the number one rice producer in the region Sri Lankans had the best practice of using tanks and other water bodies. Both traditional knowledge and discipline were around the use of water.

Many of these practices have disappeared over time. Traditional crop patterns have not been followed by many farmers while encroachments and dumping of waste have increased rapidly. Rapid development has led to the clearance of many natural forest covers.

As a result, we are dealing with more natural disasters such as floods, droughts, cyclones and even landslides causing many deaths and damage to residents. Drought conditions are getting worse day by day in several provinces, and the extremely hot weather has led to stress in daily life and damage to crops and livestock. Preparedness, awareness and proper management of forests and water bodies can only minimize the effects of these harsh weather conditions and no government can alone work towards them.

source – ceylon today, See more at – http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20170401CT20170630.php?id=27087

Projects to check growing garbage crisis

Garbage is not a problem only in Sri Lanka, but also in the rest of the countries. What is vital in this case is not how muck is collected in countries, but how the collected garbage is properly managed and recycled. It is evident how the garbage issue has affected our people and the country owing to the lack of management mechanism to utilize garbage. 

I don’t want to reiterate the tragedy and the trouble caused to the people. It is pointless to claim how much garbage is collected. The governing body and its institutions should address the issue positively and take prompt actions to manage and recycle garbage.

It is in fact heartening to say that the Western Provincial Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) has been vocal on this issue and has launched two major projects to recycle garbage and generate electricity. In a discussion with Daily Mirror, the Director of the Western Provincial Waste Management Authority Nalin Mannapperuma said that there has been a drastic change during the past few decades in the physical environment in the country especially in the Western Province. He highlighted that one of the main reasons for this transformation is garbage.
“The main factors that relate to garbage generation are the population and the economic status. It has been analyzed that the economic status of the people living in the Asian and the Asia-Pacific regions will enhance in few decades; consequently there will be a boost in the resource consumption. Hence, there is a tendency for the considerable inclination in the garbage generation in a few decades. It has been estimated that in lower /lower middle income countries (which includes many Asian Countries) waste generation rates will more than double over the next 20 years. We as an Asian country have to face this situation. We can’t avoid it. The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Sri Lanka has been estimated at 7000 Metric ton per day. The contribution from the Western Province to the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is 60% (3500 Metric tons per day). The annual growth rate of garbage generation in Sri Lanka is regarded as around 1.2-2.0%,” the Director said.

“The main factors that relate to garbage generation are the population and the economic status”

The fact is coherent that Sri Lanka is experiencing a massive garbage crisis and therefore productive actions need to be taken before the condition worsens. Moreover, it is identified that there are 25 dumpsites in the Western Province which are piled up with various types of dirt without a solution for the recycling process. At the same time, it is pleased to know the mapping of a master plan known as the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management which will be set to embark in 2018. Until it will be put it to practise, there are ongoing waste management practices as follows.

• Reduction of garbage generation   

• Source segregation   

• Reusing   

• Recycling   

• Collection   

• Transportation   

• Small /Medium Scale Composting (140 IN SL, 25 in WP)   

• Small/ Medium Scale Bio gas production (no of units 150,000 unit in SL)   

• Small/medium scale Recycling centres   

• Turnkey basis   

• Public Privet Partnership basis

When considering the above actions, we can see that the Western Provincial Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) as a supporting agency to the Local Authority has done a sensible job in monitoring effective methodologies to find solutions to the garbage crisis.
“We have tried on several occasions to find solutions for the garbage issue. But our attempts were unsuccessful due to public protests and the high capital cost. Then we have to seek private and public aid. Therefore, we have endorsed two agreements with Fairway Waste Management (pvt) Ltd which will merge with Germany and Denmark companies and Trilogy ETC (pvt) Ltd. which will merge with OPUS Clean Energy Alliance.” The Director said.
He said that the fist company will commence the project with the garbage capacity of 500mt per day in Karadiyana which would generate 11.5 megawatt (MW) and this will release 89mn kilowatt to the grid per year. As a result of that, it will be adequate to generate electricity for 35000 families. Apart from the generation of electricity, the project is also equipped to generate 41000 tons of liquid fertilizer and 75000 tons of solid fertilizer. The total investment on this project is 73 USD.    Then the second company will commence the project with the garbage capacity of 95mt per day at Gampaha, Dambuwatta which would generate 3.4 megawatt (MW). The technology which is to be used for this project is gasification i.e. burning the garbage. The total investment on this project is 30 USD.
In conclusion, the Director of WPWMA expressed his thanks on behalf of the authority to Isura Devapriya, the Chief Minister of the Western Province for the instructions given and the support rendered towards the upcoming project proposals and the issue of garbage. Nevertheless, the Director requests the general public to cooperate with local authorities in segregating and disposing their garbage at appropriate places, so that the muck collectors could collect them conveniently.

Source – Daily Mirror, See more at – http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Projects-to-check-growing-garbage-crisis-132112.html

Drinking water for drought affected K’gala District

Drinking water is being distributed to 70, 454 drought affected families in 492 Grama Niladari Divisions in 24 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Kurunegala District, said District Secretary Gamini Illangaratna.

A total of 204, 760 families belonging to 1,610 Grama Niladari Divisions are receiving drought relief. Under this scheme, a family of two receives dry rations worth of Rs 2,000 for two weeks while a family of three or more receive Rs 2,500 worth of dry rations for two weeks which is distributed by cooperatives.

Source – 30/08/2017, Ceylon Today See more at – http://www.ceylontoday.lk/article20170401CT20170930.php?id=6200

Sri Lanka Going Green

Within our children’s lifetimes, Sri Lanka will be powered entirely by green, renewable energy. This optimistic prediction appeared in a new report produced jointly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It also says that electricity production will increase almost ten-fold from the current 3,700 megawatts to about 34,000 megawatts.

The report titled ‘Assessment of Sri Lanka’s Power Sector—100 per cent Electricity Generation through Renewable Energy by 2050,’ says that 15,000 megawatts will be wind energy and about 16,000 megawatts will be solar energy.

The rest of the power is expected to come from hydro and biomass based plants. They will help to balance supply – to deal with the peaks and troughs in renewable generation which occur when the sun goes in and the wind drops.

There will also need to be electricity storage solutions to provide instantaneous power of 3,600 megawatts and an energy storage capacity of 15,000 megawatt hours. This is needed to ensure stability of the electricity grid and make sure the lights always stay on.

But what would these storage solutions look like? Excess power produced by solar and wind could be converted by electrolysis into hydrogen gas, which could be burnt at night to produce electricity. This is a completely clean technology that produces pure water as a by-product.

Giant batteries

Another storage method would be giant batteries. In July, it was announced that Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla, will build the world’s largest lithium ion battery to store renewable energy in South Australia in partnership with French energy utility Neoen.

The 129 megawatt hour battery, which is paired with a wind farm, is designed to improve the security of electricity supplies across South Australia.

Musk told reporters in Adelaide the project was not without technical challenges, given it would be the largest battery installation in the world “by a significant margin.”

“When you make something three times as big, does it still work as well? We think it will, but there is some risk in that,” he said.

“We’re confident in our techniques and the design of the system.”

The battery forms a key part of the state government’s $550m energy plan drawn up after last year’s state-wide power blackout – and if it is as successful as Elon Musk hopes, could form the basis of energy storage solutions in Sri Lanka in the future.

The UNDP and ADB report also has good news for the Sri Lankan economy. It suggests that the country could save a total of $18 billion between now and 2050 as the island moves away from imported oil and coal to clean, home grown renewables.

The report estimates that in order to transition to 100% electricity generation by renewable energy, Sri Lanka will need investment of $50 billion. This sounds like an enormous amount of money, but spread over the next 30 years it works out at less than $2 billion a year.

According to the Director of the South Asia Energy Division, Priyantha Wijayatunga, “The ADB has expressed its continuous support for low-carbon development of Sri Lanka.” “Recent proposals including a rooftop solar programme and a large-scale wind power project demonstrate the ADB’s commitment in this regard. This assessment report can serve as a comprehensive example for future utilities globally on how decentralized clean energy services can be governed.”

Way forward

Climate Change Technical Adviser of the UNDP, Alexandra Soezer agrees that green energy is the way forward for Sri Lanka. “We will continue to expand our activities in this field and pave the way for a better tomorrow.”

It’s not only in Sri Lanka where renewables are making huge progress. For example, Norway is becoming the world’s first fully electric-powered country with a concerted push for sustainability, according to an energy think tank.

EnergiNorge, an industry advisory body, set out its green energy programme and said it was possible for the country to operate entirely using clean electricity by 2050.

Hydropower is currently the source of over 96 per cent of Norway’s electricity and there are more than 110,000 electric cars in use in the country and the government recently declared that no vehicles powered by fossil fuels will be sold in Norway after 2025.

According to the Director of EnergiNorge, “Our target is for Norway, based on hydropower and better collaboration between businesses and the authorities, to become the world’s first fully electric society by 2050. That will enable us to take a leading role in climate work while improving our competitiveness.”

Meanwhile, in India the price of solar energy has fallen so quickly this year, that it has cancelled plans to build nearly 14 gigawatts of coal-fired power stations. Analyst Tim Buckley said the shift away from the dirtiest fossil fuel and towards solar in India would have ‘profound’ implications on global energy markets.

This is already being reflected, with solar panel capacity set to overtake nuclear energy next year in a historic landmark.

The total capacity of nuclear power is currently about 391.5 gigawatts, but the total capacity of photovoltaic cells is expected to hit 390 gigawatts by the end of this year with demand growing at up to 8 per cent per year, according to GTM Research.

While this would be a landmark moment for renewable energy, nuclear still generates much more electricity than solar – nearly 2.5 million gigawatt-hours a year compared to the latter’s 375,000 gigawatt-hours.

Stephen Lacy, writing on GTM’s website, said: “It’s still going to be a record-breaking year for new solar capacity additions – yet again.”

Stephen Lacy added: “In the last three years, growth rates and cost reductions for solar have far exceeded projections. Meanwhile, high costs, slow construction, and competitive renewable alternatives are causing the global nuclear industry to falter.”

“The trend lines are becoming clearer every year.”

The sun delivers enough energy to the earth in an hour to provide humans with everything they need for an entire year.

As a tropical island, Sri Lanka is well placed to take advantage of all this free energy – as long as the country can continue to develop green energy policies and attract the necessary foreign investment.

Source – 30/08/2017,Ceylon Today, See more at – http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20170401CT20170630.php?id=28826

Sinharaja in Danger

The illegal construction of the Project that crosses the Kosgulana River and along the water catchment areas of Diya Eli, Ganga Jala in the Sinharaja Forest buffer zone has caused considerable damages to the rainforest, even though the environmentalists and the Rainforest Protectors Organization raised concern over the environmental damages resulted by the project. In the meantime, the relevant authorities are being informed about the damages caused by the project, and they are accused of being silent over the law violation.

The Ministry of Power and Energy has planned to construct108 Mini Hydro Power Plants in one of the high bio-diversities of the country along Sripada, Sapthaya Kanya, Maskeliya Oya, and through Lakshapana Dam and V-Oya without any proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) being conducted by the relevant authorities, while causing damages to the environment, and the water sources of the country. This construction is being carried out in the Northern Sinharaja Rainforest buffer zone at Kosgulana, approximately 4km East from Kudawa main entrance.

Ampanagala, Vevathenna, Kombarava Ganga, Dambulu Oya, Banamadu Oya, Gombarau Oya, and many lakes and water streams are being affected and damaged by this project. “The construction of this project on the basis of economic development is being carried out while ignoring the protection of nature reservoirs and the water sources of the country,” claimed Ravindra Kariyawasam, the environmentalist and Director for Center for Environmental and Nature Studies (CENS).

More than 78 Private companies will be benefited from this project of 108 mini hydro power plants to which many environmental committees have expressed concern over the environmental damages caused by it. Nevertheless, the project is under construction and reported as a violation of the National Environmental Act of Sri Lanka.

He also claimed that the project carries out the blasting method in its process which has caused visible damages to the rainforest and the gravel roads of Sinharaja Rainforest. “Many environmental damages are allegedly being posed to while the groundwater level of the areas is going down,” he said. Moreover, the wild animals and birds that depend on the water catchment areas of the rainforest are also being exposed to these environmental damages. He also alleged the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) for not attending to their duties of protecting the bio-diversities and the nature reservoirs of the country. Fences were being built to block the pristine water streams from entering into the constructional areas while obstructing the speed of water flow which will result in the reduction of oxygen in the water. Due to this temperature of water changes causing discomfort for the animals and the water creatures in the rainforest.

Moreover, a dam is being built blocking the Kosgulana River in the Sinharaja buffer zone and several acres of rainforest cleared by heavy machinery and concrete along the pristine and protected river bank. Large trucks and machinery utilized for this construction had cleared through what was once a small footpath in the Sinharaja buffer zone, between Kudawa and Kosgulana.

“As a result of the rainforest continuously being exposed to deforestation and anti-environmental friendly projects within the conservative areas, the level of rain that the country receives every year has been reduced which will also result in affecting the people and the wildlife of hill countries,” said Ravindra Kariyawasam.

A research conducted by the International Energy Agency (IEA), a Paris-based organization established in 1974, reveals that the groundwater level of the area and the environment is exposed to an irreparable damage when such anti-environmental projects are carried out in the conservative areas. For Example, the Azwam mini hydropower plants project in Egypt reportedly affected the villagers and the wildlife in the area.

“The result of Randenigala and Victoria projects that claimed to produce power even to India is a good example to stop these anti-environmental projects in the country as those projects were a failure in protecting the environment,” said Ravindra Kariyawasam.

“There are many natural ways to produce power and energy rather than constructing mini hydro power plants or large scale power plants. Electricity could be produced from water, air and solar. Hence the government should try and ensure that the projects do not harm the environment and natural reservoirs while using the natural ways to produce power and electricity,” he further stated. “It is significant to note that the relevant authorities are fully aware of the irreparable damages which will be resulted by the project, but they still allow them to carry out the illegal constructions with no EIA s conducted with regard to the project,” he claimed.

Environmentalists

This project allegedly violates the environmental laws in the Constitution that protect the conservative areas of forest reserves, rivers and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The responsible authorities at the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), the Ministry of Environment, the Forest Conservation Department, and the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) should be vigilant in acting against the illegal project constructions. “Failure to take timely action will result in further destruction and total mockery of the environmental laws in Sri Lanka and ruin this UNESCO World Heritage Rainforest,” claim the environmentalists.

This is the second instance the CEA has allowed destructive mini-hydro projects within a World Heritage Rainforest, after allowing “Eli Hatha” mini-hydro project in Sripada (Central Hills World Heritage Rainforest) in total violation of the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance and National Environment Act.

These mini-hydro projects generate small amount of power (approximately 1 to 2 MW) while the destruction to the eco-system and the environment is considerably huge. Approximately, 12,979 hectares in Samanala Adaviya (Sripada) nature reservoir was declared as a nature reserve by a gazette notification in September 7, 2007 and is protected by the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO). Section 3 and 6 of the ordinance strictly forbid any development activity in a nature reserve such as construction of permanent or temporary structures, deforestation, removal of plants, destroy fauna and flora or construction of roads.

It raises a question as to why the Department of Forest is still silent on the issue even though it is clear the constructions are illegal and underway within the premises of the Sinharaja Rainforest, claimed the environmentalists. The CEA has not done a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) available for public comment nor information about such a project communicated to respective organizations in charge of protecting Sinharaja World Heritage Rainforest. Questions have been raised about the involvement of these authorities to hide this destructive project from the public.

Hundreds of pristine water streams that originate from the hilly Rajuwankanda rainforest flow towards Kosgulana River through the buffer zone have been destroyed by heavy trucks.

The Sunday Leader questioned the relevant authorities as to why they have not acted against the law violations and the environmental damages caused by the project to the world heritage Sinharaja rainforest.

Responding to the questions, the Director General of CEA, K.H. Muthukudarachchci said the project is legally being cleared by the authority as they have conducted proper EIAs for the mini hydro power plants project that was being constructed in the premises of the World Heritage Sinharaja Rainforest. He also said the project is not illegal nor violates any laws of the National Environmental Act.

 Forest Department

Director General of the Department of Forest Anura Sathurusinghe responding to The Sunday Leader said the particular area where the project is being under construction does not come under the authorization of the Department or the forest reservoirs of the country.

“I recently came to know that there are violations of some conditions by the CEA. Hence, I will visit the place tomorrow to check the environmental damages caused by the project and will recommend the CEA to act against any violations of law,” said Anura Sathurusinghe. He also claimed that the Department is not authorized to act against the law violations of the project since it has been cleared by the Sabaragamuva Divisional Secretariat of Kalavana, but they will act against the project if there are any law violations and environmental damages to the rainforest.

Source – The Sunday Leader, See more at – http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2015/12/27/sinharaja-in-danger/