Sri Lanka Greater Colombo Mono Rail System to be Set up by a Korean Company

17th August 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Ramani Kangaraarachchi

A leading Korean bluechip company is to invest in Sri Lanka on developing several railway lines in Greater Colombo. This railway system is known as Mono Rail Transport (MRT). The US $ 500 million project will commence work in two stages.The first stage includes construction of a railway line from Colombo Fort to Mount Lavinia.

The second phase will include construction of a railway line connecting Colpetty and Battaramulla via Rajagiriya.

The project initiated by the BOI is a result of the visit of Transport Minister Kumara Welgama to Korea recently, BOI Japan and Korea Country Manager Keerthi Jayawardena said.

He said this is a landmark in Sri Lanka, South Korea co-operation.

The principal investor, Garam Space Ltd President Kin Jong-ik arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday with a delegation of 15 members to commence discussions with the Sri Lankan Government.

“Improving the transport system in the country was a long felt need. Therefore the Government has decided to introduce an Urban Monorail Development Project on the Korea Urban Mono Rail system Technology,” he said.

“Operating a mono rail transport system (MRT) is safe, economical, comfortable and environment friendly,” Jayawardena said.

Garam Space Ltd is a consortium representing Garam Space Research Institute, Korean Rail Research Institute, Busan Transport Corporation and SKCC.

The delegation will submit a feasibility study report to the Sri Lankan Government and have further negotiations with the transport and railway authorities and BOI officials on the implementation of this mono rail service in greater Colombo.

The total investment will be borne by South Korea.

Korea Funds $50mn 500KW Solar Power Project in Hambantota, Sri Lanka

24th March 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The Korean Government will grant US$ 50 million to install Lanka's first 500 KW grid connected solar power generation project in Hambantota.

It will also lend money for the Gampaha sanitary waste management yard.

Korea's Ambassador Choi Kichul said their Government is also considering promoting Sri Lanka among Korean investors in solar, wind and biomass power generation, clean development mechanisms, carbon credit, solid waste management, energy efficiency and transmission lines.

He was the chief guest at a seminar on Clean Development Mechanisms organized by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority held jointly with Ecoeye of South Korea.

The Ambassador said there are also possibilities of sponsoring visitors from Sri Lanka to Korea's energy exhibitions to view latest technologies and technological developments in these sectors.

"We have an interest in assisting the Sri Lankan Government to meet the country's energy requirement by the implementation of a policy framework of increasing diversity of energy supply sectors specially in alternate technologies for better energy efficiency and utilization," he said.

He pointed out that engaging the private sector and civil society as stakeholders and partners is crucial to success of a green economy and the efforts to pursue sustainable energy.

Sri Lanka's First Grid-Connected Solar Power Project to be Set up in Hambantota. 500KW $50mn Project Funded by Korean Government

23rd January 2010, www.island.lk, by Ifham Nizam

Sri Lanka’s first large scale grid-connected solar power project of 500 kw power generating capacity will be set up at Buruthankanda, in the Hambantota district with funds provided by the Korean Government, Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) Director General Chandana Samarasinghe said.

The Memorandum of Understanding to set up the 500kW plant was signed between the Korean and the Sri Lankan governments on Wednesday with the participation of Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne, Korean International Cooperation Agency Resident Representative Song Min – Hyeon, Power and Energy Ministry Secretary M. M. C. Ferdinando and SLSEA Chairman Dr. Krishan Deheragoda.

According to Samarasinghe the agent of the Korean Government would undertake the project up to the level of the grid connection.

He said that the project would function as the pathfinder for solar based power generation projects in Sri Lanka.

Being the first of its kind, the project would provide valuable knowledge required to operate a commercial scale solar power generation project and it would allay any fear of the investors about the solar (photo voltic)PV technology and drive investments in this sector.

The revenue generated from this project will be channelled to the rural electrification programme of the SLSEA which has already identified 12 rural villages for immediate implementation. Through the revenue generated, more than 100 families of the most vulnerable section of the community can be provided with a basic electricity supply every year, he added.