Sri Lanka could save billions by expanding EV use, says Energy Minister

Colombo, June 19 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka could save billions of rupees spent on fossil fuel imports by increasing the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging them with renewable energy, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said.

The Minister made these remarks while addressing the inauguration of a stakeholder consultation workshop to formulate a National Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Policy, which began in Colombo yesterday.

The workshop has been organised by the Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

Representatives from the Public Utilities Commission, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, National System Manager (Pvt) Ltd, Electricity Distribution Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) are participating in the discussions.

Minister Karunathilaka noted that electric vehicles currently account for only one percent of the country's vehicle fleet and stressed the need to increase their adoption to reduce Sri Lanka's dependence on fossil fuels.

The workshop aims to gather the views of key stakeholders in preparing a national policy to support the development of EV charging infrastructure across the country.