APSL UK Representatives visit to Sri Lanka in July 2009
by Rohan de Alwis
Professor I.M. Dharmadasa and Rohan de Alwis, the President and Executive Committee Member respectively of the Association of Professional Sri Lankans in the UK (“APSL”), visited Sri Lanka in July 2009.
Their visit to Sri Lanka included a workshop/conference on solar energy organised by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (“SLSEA”), visits to several Universities in Sri Lanka to establish collaborative research programmes and partnerships, checking the progress made in the pilot solar village, meeting with Ministers and the Government of Maldives in Male’, and a near three hour meeting with His Excellency, the President of Sri Lanka.
On the 21st July APSL took part in an SLSEA sponsored Conference on Solar Energy at the BMICH Auditorium. The Conference/Symposium was very well attended not only by delegates within the growing solar academic community, but also by political and business leaders, social entrepreneurs and investors on alternative investment strategies in Sri Lanka, as well as by the representatives of the Government of the Republic of Maldives. Dr Krishan Deheragoda, Chairman of the SLSEA co-chaired the meeting with APSL President, Professor Dharmadasa.
In parallel with the Conference, the BMICH ‘showcased’ 12 local solar energy companies, which exhibited their products and capabilities. The Conference gave APSL a very good platform to broad base its aims, objectives and achievements both in the UK and in Sri Lanka and for the delegates to appreciate, understand and make use of the knowledge and help of APSL Members in the U.K.
Mr Rohan de Alwis, a lawyer by profession and the founding General Secretary of APSL made a presentation on "APSL’s current activities and its readiness to assist Sri Lanka in the Nation Building". This was also the focal point of the very close meeting both Mr de Alwis and Professor Dharmadasa had with the President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency, Mahinda Rajapakse, at the President’s Residence in Kandy on the 23rd July 2009. The President was briefed on the willingness of the professional members of APSL to help re-build the Nation, both by way of technical expertise and know-how, as well as by way of seed capital investment for small to medium enterprises. Dr Krishan Deheragoda and Minister, Professor G.L. Peiris also participated. The President called upon all professionals and ethical investors to take a keen interest in the re-development of Sri Lanka and appreciated the efforts of APSL and assured his fullest support to its members who wanted to make the change in Sri Lanka on a sustainable basis. His Excellency also emphasised the benefits a “Business Exchange” within the expatriate community of APSL would bring to help establish businesses with Sri Lankans back home. Among the various projects discussed were how APSL has been working with Hela Sarana, Medical Aid Sri Lanka, the "Solar Villages" or "CARES - Centres for Application of Renewable Energy Sources", the rapid re-settlement of IDPs through new villages with sustainable/alternative energy etc, as well as APSL activities in the U.K. including the co-sponsoring of Sri Lankan University students in the UK with the Sri Lanka High Commission in London under the organisation of Mr Indika Karunajeewa, Minister Counsellor. The efforts of APSL were appreciated by the President and the meeting ended with the President hosting the two APSL Representatives to dinner attended by Dr Krishan Deheragoda, Ministers Professor G.L. Peiris, A.H.M Fowzie and Keheliya Rambukwella.
Both in Colombo and in Kandy, Professor Dharmadasa was able to meet and forge links with numerous institutes and associations engaged in the rebuilding efforts of the country, including the SLSEA, the National Centre for Advance Studies (“NCAS”), the Sri Lanka Institute of Nano-Technology (“SLINTEC”), the Energy Forum and with several other individual professionals.
During this period Professor Dharmadasa also visited universities and institutes to discuss his collaborative research programmes on solar energy and gave public lectures on "Use of clean energy technologies for social development and reduction of poverty". He delivered public lectures at NCAS, University of Peradeniya and SLINTEC, a new institute established in April 2009 as a public (Government) private (Six local Companies) partnership to solve industrial problems.
During the visit, the APSL Representatives were able to observe new development projects taking place in the country. Building new roads; dealing with waste disposal in cities and discipline on roads were attracting more attention and action by the government, as well as the private sector by way of corporate social responsibility (“CSR”). One of the most attractive projects seen is the development of water reservoirs in the dry zone to re-establish what was once probably the world's best water management and irrigation systems. Professor Dharmadasa was also able to visit the pilot solar village and addressed over 300 community members gathered in the local school. Many Head Teachers, Deputy Directors & Directors of Education in the region were invited to this event. The main aim was to expose these projects to teachers and get their involvement in the replication process. Since the opening of the pilot project in September 2008, a large solar village for 300 families has been established by the Government in Moneragala and six more similar projects are planned for the near future.
On the way back from Sri Lanka, the APSL President spent two days in the Maldive Islands as a result of a meeting he had with the High Commissioner of Maldives in the U.K., Dr. Farahanaz Faizal. A 45-minutes meeting with the Vice President of the Republic of Maldives and a mini-workshop organised by the President’s Office was held in Male attended by numerous government Ministers and Officials. The interest of the Maldivians concentrated in utilising a large number of small islands (~1200) using clean energy technology. Mr. Ahmed Moosa, the President's special Envoy for Science & Technology for Maldives is scheduled to meet with Professor Dharmadasa later this month at Sheffield Hallam University.
Overall, the visit by Mr Rohan de Alwis and Professor Dharmadasa was a success not just for APSL, but also for the redevelopment efforts of Sri Lanka with firm links established and the assurance of the fullest support by the President of Sri Lanka to APSL and its members in their endeavours to re-build the nation in a fruitful and lasting manner.