'Environment-friendly methods needed'

Ridma Dissanayake

Transforming current technologies to environment friendly methods and finding new technologies which is in harmony with the environment have now become important. At present, modern technology has become a threat to the environment, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Minister Ranawaka was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the workshop on Impact of Technology on Business organized by the Power Asia (Pvt) Limited.

Programmes to enhance energy efficiency in all human activities is of utmost importance, he said.

Focusing development bases on Nano level technologies which are bases on quantum level as opposed to the macro level technologies is another important area, he added.

"Currently, developed and developing countries are trying to use technology and energy to their maximum level. It has already created a competition among countries," he said.

Those who win this race to obtain energy sources will become the most powerful countries in the world. They will also have the opportunity to sustain the endurance of their civilization, he added.

"But we should understand that in the modern development paradigm, to be an economic and political power, one needs to have the technological supremacy. Energy is the key to obtain technological supremacy," he said.

When we talk about energy we cannot omit talking about the environment, the minister explained.

Time has come for all of us to rethink development from a different and more humane perspective, he stressed.