Electric Trains for Sri Lanka. Initial Run between Veyangoda and Kalutara

23rd January 2011, www.sundayobserver.lk, By Ananda Kannangara

Low cost electric trains will be introduced to Sri Lanka before the end of this year, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said.
The Minister said that almost all developed countries use electric trains to transport goods and passengers due to low maintenance costs. Even developing nations in neighbouring countries with hydro power have also decided to introduce electric trains.

Minister Welgama told the Sunday Observer that the country's rail and bus transport sectors have shown a significant improvement during the past few months with the addition of 500 SLTB buses and a few trains and this encouraged us to go for electric trains.

"The objective of launching electric trains in Sri Lanka for the first time is not only to cover the high cost incurred by the Railway Department, but also to introduce an environment friendly transport service to the nation.

According to the Railway Commercial Superintendent Wijaya Samarasinghe, the electric trains will run between Veyangoda and Kalutara initially. Two main power stations to provide electricity will be built close to Veyangoda and Kalutara.

Thereafter electric trains will be introduced gradually to other parts of the country.A high level discussion was held in this connection in Colombo last week with the participation of Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

The Sri Lanka Institution of Engineers and the Moratuwa University Engineering Faculty have also pledged assistance.

Sri Lanka Removes Duty on Electric & Hybrid Cars

23rd November 2010, www.lbo.lk

Sri Lanka has made electric and hybrid cars duty free, while value added tax and rates of depreciation allowed for used cars has also been increased, a budget for 2011 said.

Another tax, social responsibility levy has been removed and nation building tax reduced from 4.0 percent to 3.0 percent.

But a Treasury official said excise taxes have been raised to recoup revenue losses from other taxes.

Though the price of new cars may not come down, an official said the price of older car could come down.

Some commercial vehicles were already on a lower duty.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said electric and hybrid vehicles will be completely freed from excise duties and value added tax to promote environmental friendly vehicles.

Motor homes will also be made duty free, according to the budget document.

Sri Lanka allows cars up to three and a half years old to be imported.

Now three year old cars will be depreciated to 60 percent compared to about 80 percent earlier. Cars three and half years old will be depreciated to 55 percent.

The budget speech said the depreciation tables will comply with World Trade Organization rules.

The government will also allow state workers and state corporation employees to import cars at a lower duty.

A provision that allowed people who paid taxes of more than 500,000 a year for three consecutive years to import cars at 25 percent duty has been removed in the budget.

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.