“Diya Janani” Floating Solar Power Plant Added to National Grid Under Patronage of President Anura
Under the government’s national program to generate electricity using renewable energy, the 5 Megawatt (MW) “Diya Janani” floating solar power plant, constructed on the Ibbankatuwa Reservoir in Dambulla, was integrated into the national power grid this afternoon (18) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Spanning over an area of 10.5 acres, this solar power plant will fulfill the annual electricity needs of around 7,500 households. The initiative will help reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 6,440 metric tons, save 2.5 million liters of diesel annually used for power generation, and save USD 3 million in foreign exchange for the country every year.
Constructed by Diya Janani (Pvt) Ltd, a key highlight of the project is that it was executed entirely with the technical expertise and contribution of local engineers and technicians. Additionally, the construction phase provided employment opportunities for around 150 local residents.
After unveiling the commemorative plaque and connecting the “Diya Janani” floating solar power plant to the national grid, the President visited the control room to inspect its operations.
A series of community welfare programs executed under this project were also symbolically inaugurated by the President.
These included donating a generator and Rs. 800,000 for the construction of the sermon hall at Sri Vivekanarama Temple, providing Rs. 2,000,000 for the fishing community to construct mud ponds and purchase fishing gear, donating Rs. 1,000,000 under the Clean Sri Lanka program to establish a green park, contributing Rs. 800,000 to purchase school supplies for an entire year for all students at Anakatawa Primary School, and donating Rs. 400,000 for a water project at Veera Mohan Jayamaha Vidyalaya, alongside several other contributions.
The event was attended by Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation, and Energy Anura Karunathilaka; Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake; Member of Parliament and former Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody; local public representatives; Secretary to the Ministry of Energy and Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russel Aponsu; officials from the Ministry of Energy and the Sustainable Energy Authority; chairmen and senior officers of CEB successor companies; Managing Director of WindForce PLC Manjula Perera, and company representatives.
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