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We will soon have artificial rain: Power and Energy Ministry

28 March 2018 06:09 am - 24     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In a bid to find a sustainable solution to the recurring droughts, the next few months would witness the first onset of artificial rain in selected areas of the country as a pilot project, Power and Energy Ministry Secretary Suren Batagoda said.

He told Daily Mirror the Ministry had decided to introduce ‘Artificial Rains’ for the first time in Sri Lanka with technical support from the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation (BRRAA) of Thailand.

“A team of experts on artificial rain-making led by the Director General of BRRAA visited Sri Lanka last month and had several rounds of talks with the Ministry and the CEB. We are confident that Sri Lanka would benefit if the pilot project is a success and artificial rain-making can be made a permanent solution to the repeated droughts that have had a negative impact on the country,” Dr. Batagoda said.

Cabinet approval has been granted for an Environment Impact Assessment on the project with the assistance of experts of the subject, and an MOU on the project is to be signed shortly, between the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy and BRRAA and that Sri Lankan officials would visit Thailand to study the rain-making project.

"The first artificial rain project will be carried out in the catchment basins of the four major reservoirs namely Castlereagh, Victoria, Kotmale and Mausakelle and depending on the success of the pilot project, it would be extended to other drought-hit areas of the country," Dr. Batagoda said.

He said the Power and Renewable Energy Ministry did not intend increasing power tariffs this year despite the on-going drought in many parts of the country.

"Only 40% of the total power generation is provided through hydropower at the moment and the remaining 60% is supplied mainly from the costly thermal power obtained from private power suppliers and renewable energy. As a result of the excessive heat generated by the drought, March 20 had recorded a supply of 2,500 MWs from the CEB. But we cannot provide an uninterrupted power supply throughout the year unless we do not dramatically increase the generation of alternative energy which is not possible in a short period of time. Besides, it needs major investments. That is why we have decided to try our luck on artificial rain," Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)


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  Comments - 24

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  • Waco Wednesday, 28 March 2018 06:51 AM

    Rulers of the country are not conducting themselves properly. Most of them are upto Il-legal activities. Therefore all these disasters. Artificial Rains could be the begging or new problems related to Clmate, with in the country.

    Dhammika Wednesday, 28 March 2018 06:58 AM

    Women do FACIAL , Politicians get SPECIAL and now weather becomes ARTIFICIAL .

    Freddy Yong Wednesday, 28 March 2018 10:44 AM

    This is a jolly good one

    Metro-Logist Wednesday, 28 March 2018 07:14 AM

    We have heard this before! Do not let there be a power and energy blackout due to torrential rains!!!

    ANTON Wednesday, 28 March 2018 07:21 AM

    FIRST WE NEED TO CHECK THE SIDE EFFECTS OF SILVER OXIDE , Ag2O , EFFECTS ON PLANTS, ANIMALS LIKE INSECTS ETC........... AND ALSO THE EFFECTS ON METALS.

    lkboy Wednesday, 28 March 2018 09:32 AM

    Very true. These toxics may cause other problems!

    johan Wednesday, 28 March 2018 10:31 AM

    This is only strange for our country but certain countries including Israel follow this method and we can see how those countries prosper economically.In Sri Lanka too many cooks spoil the soup

    lankaputha Wednesday, 28 March 2018 07:31 AM

    WE will have artificial rain when there are no beggers in colombo, all kids got a laptop, all stray dogs move to detention, etc,, etc... etc...

    Ramachandran Wednesday, 28 March 2018 07:47 AM

    The problem with all third world countries including Sri Lanka,India,and Pakistan is that there is almost non existent high quality research in Science or Mathematics.All the best minds from the third world have left for the West and there their brain power is being used to benefit the dominance of the West.So what is left in the third world are “doctors and engineers ” and all the resources are focused on them. But they don’t have the knowledge nor the Intelligence nor the intellect of a Scientist or a Mathematician. These doctors and engineers are trained to maintain systems but they can’t repair if the system has a major break nor they can build anything new. We need Scientists for these but which we don’t have.This is the sorry state of affairs in the third world. So in this third world context any ludicrous ideas are valued and the doctors and engineers are the “kings”. So soon Sri Lanka would have “Artificial Rain Produced By Thailand Engineers Before They Fly To Mars”.

    Nimal Wednesday, 28 March 2018 10:31 AM

    Great and enlightening.

    s.fernando Wednesday, 28 March 2018 11:54 AM

    Why can't nanotechnology be used in inducing rain ?

    Premalal Wednesday, 28 March 2018 07:59 AM

    Its a pity that we cannot have artificial politicians. All corruption would stop.

    kamalhot1 Wednesday, 28 March 2018 08:02 AM

    These kind of projects very much needed now, this is how we have to utilize the technology.

    hans perlee Wednesday, 28 March 2018 08:03 AM

    Nice bit of fake news. Has been tried in other poarts of the world but does not work.

    ajith Wednesday, 28 March 2018 08:13 AM

    When South-West Monsoon is about to start, why this ministry try hard to get artificial rain.

    johan Wednesday, 28 March 2018 08:19 AM

    Good news for drought hit areas and also for power generating areas.

    suhail Wednesday, 28 March 2018 08:45 AM

    Whenever and wherever cloud seeding operations are active any person affected by its effects, whether intentional or unintentional, can sue the cloud seeders for damages to property, crops and even health.  The people who authorize the cloud seeding of any area (the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is just one of many http://www.license.state.tx.us/weather/summary.htm) knows that there are risks in cloud seeding. They (state governments who license and regulate commercial weather modification) know that the chemicals used are hazardous substances, priority pollutants, and a toxic pollutants.  This makes them liable for any damages.

    Sunil Wednesday, 28 March 2018 08:46 AM

    Artificial rain? This is wishful thinking.

    Bandarasinghe Wednesday, 28 March 2018 09:44 AM

    As for the every other issues, the government is failed to find the root cause for this drought. No need the attificial rain if government is stricly on deforestation..

    Ronnie Bugger Wednesday, 28 March 2018 10:50 AM

    Why tamper with mother nature. In SL, it rains cats and dogs when it rains and it is dry when rain gets delayed, also because of nature, so why bother, dry weather has not killed anyone of sun stroke, has it ?? " anthimata thiyana pukkak nathi wennai yanne."

    Lord Wolfstein Wednesday, 28 March 2018 11:04 AM

    Other countries would be happy if they had as much rain as Sri Lanka. If here are droughts, this is only due to poor water management. I suspect that only 1% of the rainwater are caught. Look at many islands in the Mediterranean, which have no sources of ground water. These have always stored enough water underground, even if it does not rain for months.

    Senewi Wednesday, 28 March 2018 11:19 AM

    This project may not be economically or environmentally viable .

    galleguy Wednesday, 28 March 2018 11:49 AM

    DEVO WASSATHU KAALENA RAJAH BAWATHU DHAMMIKO- when king or leader rules the country in just and rightousness way.the nature God will take care of rain on time.

    Wedage Wednesday, 28 March 2018 02:37 PM

    This procedure was adopted by late Him. J. R. Jayawardene during his tenure.


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