'India could help Lanka's energy sector'

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

COLOMBO: Sri Lankans have a splendid opportunity to obtain the assistance of India in the development sphere, Minister of Public Estate Management and Development Milroy Fernando said yesterday.

Addressing the Media after the Minister's recent visit to India, he said that India has achieved many goals especially in the field of agriculture and the energy sector.

According to the discussions between the Sri Lankan delegates and the Indian government officers, India has stressed its willingness to lend a helping hand to Sri Lanka. India produces diesel which is technically called Bio-Diesel using castor seeds.

The castor crop provides the energy requirements of India. In addition India uses wind-power as an energy source successfully and wind mills produce clean energy. Hence, Sri Lanka can obtain the assistance of India to meet its growing energy requirement, the Minister said.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) officials and the Sri Lankan team discussed the possibility of offering certificate courses under the open and distance education mode of the TNAU, for rural youth in Sri Lanka.