Sri Lanka uses 100 mln USD Indian credit for solar panels in govt institutions, religious places

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka will use an extended loan of 100 million US dollar Indian credit line to fix roof top solar panels in government institutes and religious places, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchan Wijesekera said after electricity tariff hikes triggered protests.

Some Buddhist monks threatened not to honour payment for electricity usage and blackout at their temples after the government raised electricity tariff to a record high to reduce heavy losses suffered by the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

The Ministry of Power & Energy later agreed to install rooftop solar panels at select places of worship with the Indian credit line but later be paid for by the connection holder, as a solution to the electricity tariff hike.

“USD 100 Million Credit Line extended by Gov of India for roof top solar will be used to equip schools, universities, education institutes, hospitals, district & divisional secretariat’s, government buildings and religious institutes,” Minister Wijesekera said in his twitter platform.

Related; Sri Lanka reverses electricity tariff reforms for religious places after protests
Related; Sri Lanka power tariff hike: ministry offers olive branch to protesting monks
(Colombo/ Oct 15/2022)