ENERGY CONVERSION FUND

Is the above-mentioned Act No.2. of 1985 -Energy Conservation Fund yet in operation, forgotten or cancelled? If not, it is prudent to revive in the wake of the interest shown in introducing Renewable Sources of Energy, as the objectives for which the Fund was established was to finance, promote and initiate activities and projects relating to the improvement of any or all aspects of energy demand management and conservation programmes in Sri Lanka and in particular, identifying available technology for improving efficiency in the use of energy in agriculture, industry, commercial, domestic and transport sectors; and the production of energy, processing, conversion, transportation, storage, co-generation and heat recovery techniques,

If this Act is to be revived, then it would be necessary to amalgamate the present Ministry for Energy with Ministry for Power as these two subjects are inter-connected rather than creating portfolios to please and accommodate politicians. If I remember, the Pattiyapola Research station, at Matara was funded by UNDP and several experiments were successfully carried out. I am not aware whether this station is yet functioning, if not, it is suggested this institution too be resurrected, in view of the new technologies springing up such as Clean Coal, OTEC, etc.

G.A.D.SIRIMAL BORALESGAMUWA