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Saving power

Whenever the prices of petroleum products are revised, we tend to think of only one thing: motoring. Motorists worry about their fuel bills and bus commuters lament over higher fares. But there is a far bigger picture, which is usually not considered.

In reality, most of our fuel imports go towards power generation. Around 60 per cent of the power from the national grid is generated by thermal power plants which use diesel. With crude oil reaching US$ 100 a barrel, any country that imports its total requirement of oil faces a major predicament. Sri Lanka is no exception.

Having no oil resources of our own yet (exploration is due to begin this year), Sri Lanka has to spend Rs.100 billion a year to import fuel for power generation. Also consider the fact that refined oil is much more expensive than crude oil - Sri Lanka’s refineries do not have the capacity to fulfil the entire local requirements, so imports are essential.

With dry weather set to prevail over the coming months, the picture looks bleak indeed as the Ceylon Electricity Board will not be able to fall back on hydropower.

It is in this context that the authorities are appealing to the public to save power, at least in the peak time band from 6 p.m to 9 p.m. Not only households, but also local bodies and Government institutions should follow this advice as we see street lights burning even in broad daylight.

Saving power is not a difficult task at all. Turning off even a single light bulb can make a difference. The same goes for fans, airconditioners and other appliances left on in empty rooms.

Do not leave your TV and video recorder on standby - turn them off completely. Even such a minor gesture can make a substantial difference to your electivity bill and the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

There should also be a countrywide move to CFL bulbs, which consume much less power, provide more light and last longer. Even developed countries such as the UK are taking steps to ban incandescent bulbs from 2010 and completely switch over to CFLs.

Such a move should be considered here as well. Renewable sources of power such solar power should be popularised especially in areas where the national grid cannot reach. Renewable energy is the future and we have to take steps in that direction now.


Ram Sethu

Ram Sethu is in the news again. The Indian Government, which earlier got into hot water over claims that Lord Ram does not exist, has again received a breather to prove its case over the multi-billion dollar project.

The plan to dredge a shipping channel between Sri Lanka and India, named Sethusamudram, has coveted controversy from the beginning. The project aims at providing a continuous navigation channel between the East and West coast of India, without circumnavigating Sri Lanka.

Hindu devotees have described Sethusamudram as a sacrilegious measure, as it would destroy Ram Sethu, the sand formation between Sri Lanka and India which Hindus believe has been built by Lord Ram’s army of monkeys.

On the other hand, environmentalists deride the project for the adverse environmental impact it would have on marine life and coastal resources. Coastal residents, mostly fishermen in India are worried that it will affect their livelihood.

Despite claims that the canal will vastly reduce distance and journey times for ships, many shipping operators are wary of these claims and some say that the savings in distance, time, fuel and other costs will not be substantial. Even a State-owned shipping line in India has taken a dim view of the project.

One also has to consider the security implications. Many in India believe that the project will be advantageous to the LTTE and other terror groups for gun-running activities. Sri Lankan authorities have expressed reservations on Sethusamudram on several occasions.

Activists are now demanding a White Paper on this aspect from the Central Government. But for the decision makers in India, the delay is extremely frustrating: It could cost the project 40 per cent more, touching a whopping four thousand crore rupees, and the channel could become all the more expensive to use.

There is no sign of the debate over Sethusamudram coming to an end in the near future. Indian authorities should not rush into the project without considering all the pros and cons and without evaluating all the claims made by various parties on its viability.

The possibility that it would become a white elephant is quite high, given the lukewarm response of the shipping community. The Indian Government’s shipping experts should use the ‘breather’ they have received to analyse all aspects of the project to come to a definite conclusion on the viability of Sethusamudram.

LTTE’s butchery and barbarity

LTTE’s butchery and barbarity, over the past two years have come a long way from Kebithigollawa to Buttala costing lives of innocent people with destruction to property. The latest heinous crime was committed in Buttala Wednesday when the LTTE exploded a claymore mine on a passenger bus.

Full Story

How LTTE guns and bombs shattered the Ceasefire

* Over 8,000 violations by Tigers:
* Tigers used ceasefire to re-arm and re-group:
* LTTE pulled out of talks citing flimsy excuses:

Full Story

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