The Power and Energy Ministry will conduct a workshop, at the Heritance, Kandalama, on bio fuels to impart training on the production of bio fuels.
Power and Energy Ministry sources said that the objective of organizing the training program on the production of bio fuels was to impart training to selected participants from the member States to help them acquire knowledge on the available technology and future prospects on bio fuels.

Bio gas is the answer for three major problems: environment management, energy management and agri system management, President of the Lanka Biogas Assosiation, Professor Ajith de Alwis, said at the launch of Biogas Association yesterday. Sri Lanka must try to promote bio gas as a technology. Though in the past bio gas was considered a poor man's technology, it is well accepted and recognized for its triple importance and the unique capabilities of the process.

The Government has made arrangements to expedite work on a new power supply project for the Ratnapura District at a cost of Rs. 4,500 million. Upon completion of the project within 2009, all families in the district will have access to electricity.
This project was initiated under the Electricity for All programme launched by the Power and Energy Ministry.

If the government had not completed the 300 MW Kerawalapitiya electricity generation plant by 2008, Sri Lanka would have experienced a major power crisis with constant power cuts by 2009. The cost of the plant is around US $ 300 million and the government assures that there would be no power cuts in 2009. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned at the end of this month.
The Kerawalapitiya power plant will generate 200 MW under its first phase and add it to the National Grid and in the second phase it will generate the other 100 MW in 2009, the Power and Energy Ministry said.

If the government had not completed the 300 MW Kerawalapitiya electricity generation plant by 2008, Sri Lanka would have experienced a major power crisis with constant power cuts by 2009. The cost of the plant is around US $ 300 million and the government assures that there would be no power cuts in 2009. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned at the end of this month.
The Kerawalapitiya power plant will generate 200 MW under its first phase and add it to the National Grid and in the second phase it will generate the other 100 MW in 2009, the Power and Energy Ministry said.

Almost thirty percent of the vehicles that come to Colombo on week days are those used by public servants and most have drivers too, costing around 150,000 monthly for fuel and salary for each vehicle. It could be more cost effective and ease traffic congestion if public servants are paid 50,000 rupees monthly instead, Chairman, Road Development Authority, M. D. S. Fernando told The Island yesterday (13).

The common scientific armour against alternative energy systems, if we take the energy from water concept, for that matter, is the first law of thermodynamics (which leads to conservation of energy). It says "The increase in the internal energy of a system is equal to the amount of energy added by heating the system, minus the amount lost as a result of the work done by the system on its surroundings". In layman terms, it says energy cannot be created and input energy should be greater than output considering all systems are less than 100% efficient

Hundreds of fishermen and boat owners demonstrated in the Hikkaduwa town yesterday (18) demanding that fuel prices be reduced or provided at subsidized rates to those engaged in the fishing industry.

The demonstration, which lasted over an hour, was organised by the Fishing Industries General Union and Southern Provincial Council JVP member Nishantha Perera was present among the protestors.

Technological innovation vital for wealth generation, said University of Surrey Advanced Technology Institute Director Professor Ravi Silva. He was addressing a workshop on Exploring Opportunities in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology organised by the Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS), University of Peradeniya and the Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation.

Chief Government Whip Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday told Parliament that the Government is formulating a new policy on fuel and petroleum products. The Minister responding to an oral question raised by UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake said most countries have formulated "fuel policies' to face to the present oil crisis. The proposed policy will also lay emphasis on restricting the import of vehicles which have higher engine capacities.