Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-02-28

Establishment of Floating Solar Power Energy Plants in the Mahaweli Reservoirs

- The Cabinet has granted approval in principle for the establishment of Floating Solar Power Energy Plants in the Reservoirs of the Mahaweli Economic Zones, as a step towards focussing on renewable energy sources for the purpose of reducing thermal energy power generation. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Hon. Susil Premajayantha, the Minister of Science, Technology and Research and Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, to call for international competitive bidding for the implementation of a Solar Power Energy Plant of 100MW, covering less than even 4% of the entire surface area of the Maduru Oya Reservoir, which is about 500 Acres in extent, as the first step, was approved by the Cabinet.