Western Norway University of Applied Sciences in partnership with the University of Jaffna and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka hosted a seminar and a panel discussion on “A New Decade: Investing in Clean Energy in Sri Lanka – Drivers and Barriers” on January 21, 2020 at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo – Sri Lanka.

The panel discussion is a precursor to the opening of Sri Lanka’s first floating solar power plant at the Faculty of Engineering, Kilinochchi Campus, University of Jaffna. The panel discussion brought together key actors from the Sri Lankan energy sector and focused on various aspects of clean energy transition and power generation in Sri Lanka.

The panel consisted of Sturle H. Pedersen, Chairman of Greenstat Hydrogen Asia, a Norwegian clean energy company, Prof. Nalin de Silva, Senior Professor, University of Colombo, Dr. Asanka S. Rodrigo, Director General, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, B. M. U. Senarathna Banda, Deputy General Manager, Renewable Energy Development Division, Ceylon Electricity Board, S. Renganthan, CEO and Managing Director, Commercial Bank of Sri Lanka, and Kamal Dorabawila, Principal Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC). In addition, Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal, Mr. Inge Vikesdal, CEO of Current Solar, Prof. Kathirgamanathan Kandasamy of the University of Jaffna, Prof. Dhayalan Velauthapillai of the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) and Ms. Nanthini Nagarajah, PhD Research Fellow also addressed the gathering. The session was moderated by Prof. Rohini M. de Silva, University of Colombo.