Sri Lankan authorities pay focus on sustainable energy

(May 24, 2010) Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority has initiated a programme to set up Sri Lanka’s first ever major scale solar power plant. A 50-acre land in Baruthakanda that has been declared as a Solar Power Zone in Hambantota has been selected to establish two solar power plants. The capacities of the proposed plants are 600kw and 500kw. Renewable Energy Director of Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Athula Jayatunga said to media that Japan would grant US $ 9 million for the 600kw plant, while Korea will fund the 500kw plant with US $ 4.5 million. Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority is to develop infrastructure for both facilities. A power supply of 1, 237,500 kw will be added to the National Grid after the generation of these two plants begin. They are also expected...

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Baruthakanda , Sri Lanka , Sustainable Energy

Water Management degree course to be introduced in a Sri Lankan university

(May 24, 2010) Sri Lanka Minister of Irrigation and Water Management Nimal Siripala de Silva says that a degree course on water management will be introduced to Sri Lankan universities. He said that water management has become a top priority in the modern world since water has become a scarce resource. The attempts of Sri Lanka government in connivance with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to commercialize water resources in the island came under severe criticism by activists a decade ago. The Minister further said that this degree course will be hosted by Uva –Wellassa university situated in Badulla district he represents....

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Nimal Siripala de Silva , Uva-Wellassa university , water management , Water Management degree , water market

Nearly 1,000 acres of Kokilai Bird Sanctuary razed

(May 04, 2010) Nearly 1,000 acres of the Kokilai Bird Sanctuary in the northeastern coast have been reportedly destroyed in a very brief period and cleared torched after dousing petrol. Between 2,000 and 3,000 Weaver bird nests were also demolished with eggs and young birds, reports say. The cleared land is a part of the sanctuary that has about 6,000 acres. Ornithologists said that of the 13 Black headed Storks found in Sri Lanka, three were reported in the Sanctuary, apart from large number of pelicans and other hundreds of migrants, reported The Island. Villagers also said that the said area was home to 35 elephants...

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Flora and Fauna Ordinance , Kokilai Bird Sanctuary , National Environment Act

Cadmium deposits cause of kidney failure in NCP

By Saliya Kumara Gunasekara (Lakbimanews) (May 02, 2010) Arecent research carried out by Prof. Sarath Bandara of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya has revealed that staples such as rice, grains, vegetables and curd produced in the North Central Province (NCP) contained Cadmium deposits and this is believed to be the reason for severe renal failure cases among those living in the NCP. The reason for the percolation of Cadmium is due to the use of imported phosphate fertilizer, the research has found. “Kidney failure is on the increase in the North Central region. Analysts were of the view that the use of phosphate must be restricted in order to solve this problem. If people begin to use Eppawala Rock- Phosphate, a considerable reduction of Cadmium being mixed into...

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in cadmium , Central bank of Sri Lanka , kidney diseases , North Central Province , Rajarata , renal failure