Letters to the Editor
View(s):The thrill of going to the Book Fair in these hi-tech days
Finally, after days of anticipation I made it to the most awaited Colombo International Book Fair 2024, which was celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Huge applause to all who came up with this idea 25 years back.
For 80’s kids back then, books were our haven. At a time where we had no idea what the Internet was, books were everything. I still remember the thrill of getting a new Harry Potter book on each of my birthdays. Kids back then risked getting scolded by teachers, to read books which they hid under their desks during school hours. Those were the simple pleasures of life.
And then came the Internet…… Yes, it has opened us to the global community, and our knowledge gaining ability increased exponentially, but we need to stop for a minute and think again. Because we have given the reins of our lives to all the technological tools and our thinking ability will vanish into thin air.
But there are those like us who genuinely cannot resist the temptation of buying a book, enjoying the smell of those fresh pages and immersing ourselves in a world the writer creates with so much of passion and hard work.
For a writer, it is not just a way to earn money. He/she sacrifices a lot, not knowing whether they will succeed or not. Thanks to them, the creativity in ourselves also keeps blooming. Books are not just a way to increase creativity, they also help shape our lives in a better way.
These annual book fairs are an excellent way to keep up the enthusiasm in readers, and to encourage writers to come up with more and more fresh content.
Therefore, a huge thank you to all involved in making this annual Colombo International Book Fair a success. The joy you experience browsing through all the books and buying and reading them cannot be explained in words. It can only be felt yourself.
V. Samarakoon Via email
The neglected potential of small hydropower and CEB’s disparities in payments
In recent years, concerns have been mounting regarding the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) apparent neglect of small hydropower plant owners. While other power producers, particularly those generating electricity from diesel etc., receive generous compensation for each unit of electricity, small hydropower projects face significantly lower payments – an issue that is undermining the future of sustainable energy in the country.
It is well-known that small hydropower plants contribute clean, renewable energy to Sri Lanka’s grid, yet the financial rewards for these contributions have been disproportionately low. During the first 15 years of operation, small hydropower plants are compensated at a somewhat reasonable rate. However, once they surpass this period, the payments for the electricity they generate drop to alarmingly low levels.
This practice by the CEB raises several questions. Firstly, small hydro- power turbines and generators are designed to last for up to 75 years, meaning that even after 15 years of operation, they continue to function efficiently and produce valuable electricity for decades. Given this reality, the decision to drastically reduce payments after the initial 15-year period seems both short-sighted and unfair.
Furthermore, the inconsistency in payment structures across different forms of power generation is deeply troubling. For instance, diesel power plants receive substantially higher payments for the same unit of electricity.
Despite the fact that every kilowatt produced is fundamentally the same, whether it comes from a hydropower plant, wind turbine, diesel generator or any other –
the financial compensation given to small hydropower plants lags far behind.
This disparity also undermines the broader effort to promote renewable energy sources. Hydropower, especially small-scale projects, has the potential to provide clean, consistent, and environmentally-friendly electricity to the grid for many years. Yet, the lack of adequate financial support discourages further investments in this vital sector.
By de-prioritising hydropower in favour of more costly and environmentally harmful power sources like diesel, the CEB risks hindering the progress toward a greener, more sustainable energy future.
It is imperative that the CEB and relevant government authorities take immediate steps to address these disparities. The current policy, which reduces payments after the 15-year mark, needs a thorough re-evaluation. Adequate compensation must be provided to reflect the ongoing contributions of these plants to the national grid, even beyond their initial years of operation.
A number of mini hydropower stations in Sri Lanka that have exceeded the 15-year operational period are now struggling to remain viable, as their current income is insufficient to cover operational costs. This alarming development poses a serious threat to the sustainability of small-scale renewable energy projects across the country.
This issue highlights a critically short-sighted policy approach on the part of the government. By failing to provide adequate financial incentives to support these plants beyond their initial years, the government risks undermining an essential sector of the renewable energy industry.
Without urgent intervention and policy adjustments, the continued shutdown of these mini hydropower stations could set back Sri Lanka’s renewable energy ambitions and its transition to a more sustainable energy future.
Moreover, there should be a greater focus on leveling the playing field across all renewable energy sectors. The CEB must recognize the value that small hydropower brings, not only in terms of electricity production but also in reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. By extending fair compensation to hydropower plants, the country can make significant progress toward achieving its renewable energy goals.
K.R. Pushparanjan Calgary, Canada
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