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| Tuesday, 24 August 2004 |
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The Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) in collaboration with the Association of Professional Sri Lankans in the UK hosted a seminar on 'Development Through Professionals and Professionalism" at the OPA auditorium on August 21. Minister of Power and Energy Susil Premajayantha was the chief guest. The seminar focused on topics, which included power, alternative energy and total quality management. Addressing the seminar Minister Premajayantha stressed the need for renewable energy and confirmed the commitment of the Government to future power generation under the Norachcholai and Upper Kotmale projects. He also highlighted the importance of creating alternative sources of energy especially in an international environment of rising fuel prices. President of the OPA Parakrama Karunaratne said that the OPA appreciates the interest and the commitment shown by Sri Lankan professionals living abroad to assist and help their motherland and to share information, technology and transfer of technology with their Sri Lankans counterparts. Professor of the Sheffield-Hallam University in the UK, Prof. I. M. Dharmadasa, a leading figure in the field of solar power outlined the various possibilities using solar power both in industrial and domestic use together with the resultant overflow of benefits to the country in general. He also pointed out that the capital cost in the long-term was low and the long-term results would enable an efficient and viable production of energy. He cited the example of a project in Bangladesh where a particular island was completely provided with electricity using solar systems, but jeopardised by parties with vested interests in conventional sources of energy. Engineer P. C. Joseph speaking on the 'Role of Renewable Energy in Sri Lanka' highlighted the need to generate such energy using locally available materials with a view to saving on external reserves. He favoured the employment of dendro power in contrast to the use of coal-powered plants citing the example of the high cost of hard coal imported to this country in comparison to locally available fuel wood. Piyatissa Liyanage, a chartered engineer working in a number of local authorities in the UK discussed the opportunities of using solid waste to generate power. He also stated both here and overseas, solid waste was collected but unfortunately not managed to harness the financial benefits, which would accrue from such organised usage. He emphasised that with an increasing population in the world, the generation of solid waste would increase. The seminar culminated by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two associations to provide a platform for future co-operation of knowledge transfer. |
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