Norway’s discussion on clean energy investments in Sri Lanka today

The Norwegian Embassy in Colombo in partnership with the University of Jaffna and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is hosting an expert panel discussion titled ‘A New Decade: Investing in Clean Energy in Sri Lanka – Drivers and Barriers’, today, at Galle Face Hotel.

Both Norway and Sri Lanka are committed to decrease carbon emissions and to increase the use of clean energy technologies to tackle future energy demands. In 2018, Norway and Sri Lanka established a clean energy consortium that includes academics, researchers and private enterprises from both countries. Norway is also assisting Sri Lanka to improve the mix of environmentally friendly energy sources, with a specific focus on increased solar energy generation in Sri Lanka.

The panel discussion is a precursor to the opening of Sri Lanka’s first floating solar power plant in Kilinochchi built in partnership with the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and University of Jaffna on January 24, 2020.

The expert panel will consist of Greenstat Hydrogen Asia (a Norwegian clean energy company) Chairman Sturle H. Pedersen, University of Colombo Senior Professor Prof. Nalin de Silva, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Director General Dr. Asanka S. Rodrigo, Ceylon Electricity Board Renewable

Energy Development Division Deputy General Manager B.M.U. Senarathna Banda, Commercial Bank of Sri Lanka CEO and Managing Director S. Renganthan and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Principal Investment Officer Kamal Dorabawila. Prof. Rohini M. de Silva from University of Colombo will moderate the session. In addition, Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal, Current Solar CEO Inge Vikesdal, Prof. Kathirgamanathan Kandasamy of University of Jaffna, Prof. Dhayalan Velauthapillai of Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) and HVL PHD Research Fellow Nanthini Nagarajah will also address the gathering.