Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says Sri Lanka needs an electricity generation policy focused on providing a continuous supply of high-quality electricity at the lowest possible unit cost.
He said this could be achieved through renewable energy, while accusing the current government of abandoning renewable energy projects after coming to power despite promoting various slogans on renewable energy while in the Opposition.
Premadasa made these remarks following a meeting at the Office of the Opposition Leader to brief Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Matthew Duckworth on government policy decisions affecting solar energy entrepreneurs.
He pointed out that thousands of entrepreneurs emerged in the solar energy sector in 2016, with a large number of engineers, technical officers, self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs becoming involved in the industry.
However, he said micro, small and medium-scale businesses based on solar energy are now gradually being pushed towards collapse.
The Opposition Leader also alleged that a government policy aimed at weakening the entrepreneurship of those in the sector was being implemented because they lacked political or influential connections.
He said solar energy entrepreneurs save the country more than Rs. 25 billion every month while adding nearly 2,500 megawatts of electricity capacity to the national grid. He questioned why the country could not work towards a target of installing one million rooftop solar systems.
Premadasa noted that around 150,000 rooftop solar systems have been installed so far. He also questioned why large investments are being made in thermal power plants when Sri Lanka has natural resources such as solar, hydro and wind power.
Meanwhile, he said the payment for a unit of solar power had been reduced from Rs. 37 to Rs. 27 and subsequently to a level below Rs. 20.
He questioned whether the Net Plus scheme was creating a situation in which solar energy entrepreneurs were withdrawing from their investments because the government was following an agenda favouring the thermal and fuel power generation sector.
Sri Lanka should learn from the experiences of countries such as Australia and Norway in renewable energy and take steps to promote renewable and solar energy in the country, the Opposition Leader said.
He also warned that greater dependence on fuel and thermal power plants amid the prevailing military situation around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb could be harmful to Sri Lanka's present and future.
Therefore, Sri Lanka should focus on renewable and solar energy, which can generate electricity continuously at the lowest possible cost, he said. Premadasa further stated that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya would provide its fullest support to any programme aimed at promoting renewable energy.
