Religious establishments in WP get solar rooftop systems
India funded project to cover 5000 multi-religious establishment across the country by 2025
COLOMBO – Four religious establishments in the Western Province received rooftop solar power systems from the Indian High Commission in Colombo on Friday (25) as part of a US$ 17 million India-funded project aimed at installing Solar PV Rooftop systems in 5000 religious sites across Sri Lanka.
The project is designed to reduce energy costs for religious institutions while bolstering Sri Lanka’s transition to clean energy.
Scheduled to be completed by early next year, the 5,000 solar rooftop systems will be installed across all nine provinces and 25 districts of Sri Lanka, covering major religious sites representing Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.
Friday’s ceremonial handing over attended by officials from the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) saw Hokandara Temple, Sri Aanjaneyar Temple, St. Anthony’s Church and Mutwal Jumma Mosque in the Western Province receive the solar power systems.
A statement from the Indian High Commission said the project highlights India’s steadfast commitment to bilateral cooperation in renewable energy, emphasizing the human-centric and secular values underpinning India’s development partnership with Sri Lanka.
It noted that with Indian expertise, the project will add 25 MW of solar capacity, generating approximately 37 million units annually, supporting the Sri Lankan government’s ‘people-centric energy transition’ policy.
Beyond the supply and installation of the systems, the project also includes a 5-year maintenance period to ensure long-term efficiency and sustainability, the High Commission said, recalling that during the recent visit of India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar to Sri Lanka, India had reiterated its strong commitment to advancing bilateral projects of Sri Lankan priority under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. “This initiative is a significant part of these efforts, promoting close cooperation between the two countries,” it added, noting that the project opens a new chapter in the energy partnership between India and Sri Lanka, reinforcing the shared goal of promoting reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy.
Other ongoing collaborations in the sector include solar electrification of around 9000 Buddhist Temples and Pirivenas across Sri Lanka under grant assistance of USD 10 million, the hybrid renewable energy project in the three islands off Jaffna, LNG supply and infrastructure development, and the solar power plant at Sampur, the statement highlighted.
-ENCL
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