A 30 KW solar panel unit which was set up at the Sirikotha UNP headquarters was declared open by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last morning.
UNP Secretary General and Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim speaking to the media following the opening ceremony, said the country could be provided with 100 percent electricity as the UNP government took a massive decision in 1977 to set up the Mahaweli Hydro power station.
He added that giant strides are being made again to reduce the cost of power generation by setting up solar power units across the country under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Minister Kabir Hashim also said that he thanked Power and Renewable Energy State Minister Ajith P.Perera for taking initiatives to set up the solar panel on a concept of his, at the Sirikotha Mandiraya.
Power and Renewable Energy State Minister Ajith P.Perera said the Ministry expects to popularize the use of Solar power as it is a form of low cost energy source in Sri Lanka.
He added that the country expects to generate 100 MW of solar power by 2020 and 200 MW by 2025. He also thanked JLANKA Technologies Company for the grant of the solar panels to the Sirikotha Mandiraya.
Leader of the House and Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella was also present on the occasion.