Explore alternative energy sources - Minister Prof Tissa Vitarana

Manjari PEIRIS

Railway can be used more efficiently as a mode of transport thus improving the status of transport, said Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana.

The public bus transport in urban areas too should be improved by making it more efficient and comfortable for passengers so that the flooding of private vehicles into our transport network could be minimised preventing traffic jams," he said.

Prof. Vitarana said so addressing a seminar to discuss the status of sustainable energy in Sri Lanka, the potentials and the policy gaps, held recently at the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science at Colombo 7.

Minister Vitarana also disclosed that the Government has appointed an inter-ministerial committee to look into the possibilities of meeting these challenges.

He pointed out that a country couldn't be developed without finding a solution to the energy crisis. "Depending on fossil fuel, petroleum gas and coal is going to cause problems due to its scarcity with the increased demand for it. Therefore we have to find sources of creating alternate energy for our needs while cutting down the wastage of fuel consumption."

He stated that a policy to use solar energy would be a viable system to be developed practically applying it in the period ahead.

"The Cabinet has identified Glyricedia plantation as the fourth plantation in Sri Lanka which is also being planted as an under-crop of coconut plantation.

But there should be more active drive to propagate this plantation which could be used as a source of alternate energy. The dairy and agriculture sectors too could be highly benefited through this plantation.

The Minister suggested wind energy to be used as another source for creating alternate energy which is available right through the year.

"We have to explore new avenues and ways of creating alternate energy such as wave energy," he said.