Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the Sri Lankan government to prioritise renewable energy and end its reliance on thermal and diesel power generation, citing Thailand’s latest rooftop solar initiative as an example.
In a post on ‘X’, Premadasa commended the Thai government for introducing a subsidy scheme to encourage households to adopt solar energy, while criticising Sri Lanka’s continued dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
“Way to go forward… Well done, Thai government,” he stated.
Addressing the Sri Lankan government, Premadasa called for an end to what he described as the influence of the “thermal power mafia” and the continued promotion of diesel power generation.
“Stop flirting with the thermal power mafia. Stop encouraging diesel power generation and other non-renewables. Cease the continuous nourishment of non-renewable monopolies and oligarchs,” he said.
He further urged the government not to be influenced by financial incentives offered by those benefiting from non-renewable energy generation.
“Renewables are the way forward. Time to walk the talk and implement the people’s mandate,” Premadasa added.
His remarks came in response to reports that Thailand has launched a 50-billion-baht ‘Rooftop Solar for the Public’ scheme, offering a subsidy of 50,000 baht per household to promote clean energy and reduce electricity bills.
The Thai government has reportedly approved funding to support up to one million households with solar equipment and installation costs.
According to Thai authorities, online registrations for the programme opened earlier this week, attracting more than 50,000 applications on the first day.
The scheme covers residential rooftop solar systems with capacities ranging from 5 to 10 kilowatts, subject to eligibility requirements and installation conditions.
Premadasa’s comments highlight his call for Sri Lanka to accelerate its transition towards renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity generation. (Newswire)