The Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha said that innovators and new inventors are created by promoting the competency and if we are to overcome the energy crisis, renewable energy sources must be popularized in Sri Lanka. He said this when he participated as the chief guest on the second day of the new inventions and new creations exhibition relating to renewable sustainable energy organized collectively by the “All Ceylon Buddhist Association”, New Inventors’ Commission and Sri Lanka Sunithya Energy Authority.
Further expressing his ideas at this occasion, the minister stated like this.
If we can convert the roof of a school onto solar energy source, the question of electricity bill of that school will be ended in a situation that the electricity bill has gone up. Only once we have to invest for this purpose. This can be done even in temples. We have enough innovations. The question is to take them up to international level. When a student or another person make an innovation, an investment and a capital is needed to take that up to the next level. The problem is not having that facility. The Innovations Commission helps for that and today the banks also have come to assist for it. The main problem in Sri Lanka today is the crisis of electricity power.
Popularizing the renewable energy resources as much as possible is the best solution for both issues, energy crisis and not having spaces for the innovations to go ahead. Because we do not need to import them. Sun shine need not to be imported. Wind, sea waves and water are all the same. Therefore, this work is important to fulfill the current requirements. We must also encourage everybody who do innovations. Full support of our ministry will also be given to this. According to our exam-based education system, exams must be passed to do anything. This mentality will be changed when the new education reforms are introduced. The main objective of new education reforms is to reduce the burden of exams and to increase opportunities for skills. New innovators and inventors are generated by increasing these skills. Although the inventors are created in our country, it is not in a same level as other countries because the necessary changes in education have not been done. We will start these changes next year. These changes will be felt by the children, country and the people after about 5 years’ time.
A gathering including the Chairperson of the Buddhist Association Mr. Chandra Nimal Wakishta attended in this occasion.
