The Hon. Ajith P. Perera

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, the Adjournment Motion moved by Hon. Hector Appuhamy is very important and timely. COP is to begin in Brazil in a few weeks. At a time when the world is preparing to declare commitments to control global warming and advance sustainable development, I thank Hon. Hector Appuhamy for moving this proposal, which is crucial for Sri Lanka’s sustainable development.

¶ 02 In my limited time, I will focus on one sector. Sri Lanka’s natural endowment is a blessing, and in energy we have hydropower as a great asset, as well as excellent solar and wind resources—among the best globally. While we already meet a significant share of demand with renewables, we have underutilized the rich wind potential of the Northern region, and must develop it. As a tropical country with year‑round solar irradiation, we can also scale solar power to meet national needs. Beyond generation, we should electrify transport—cars, buses and rail—adding value to the planet while protecting the environment.

¶ 03 Under international agreements, we must also consider carbon trading. We have discussed it for years; I have about a decade of close experience in this area. Yet we still mostly hold talks and draft papers. We know a lot, but we have not secured value for the contribution we already make to the global environment—through hydropower and wind—by reducing emissions.