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Moulding that led to 50 years of service in the Lord’s Vineyard – By Bernard Fernando

Exploit freely available Solar power via ‘Roof tops’ before calling tenders for large scale Solar Power projects on Land/ Water bodies. – By Bernard Fernando.

Towards a robust ‘Representative Democracy’ via 100% Proportional Representation (PR) and ‘Country-first’ Nominations in merit order basis – By Bernard Fernando.

‘Out of the box’ system changes to achieve the real objectives of LG Machinery – By Bernard Fernando.

Moulding that led to 50 years of service in the Lord’s Vineyard – By Bernard Fernando

Moulding that led to 50 years of service in the

Exploit freely available Solar power via ‘Roof tops’ before calling tenders for large scale Solar Power projects on Land/ Water bodies. – By Bernard Fernando.

Exploit freely available Solar power via ‘Roof tops’ before calling

Towards a robust ‘Representative Democracy’ via 100% Proportional Representation (PR) and ‘Country-first’ Nominations in merit order basis – By Bernard Fernando.

Towards a robust ‘Representative Democracy’ via 100% Proportional Representation (PR)

‘Out of the box’ system changes to achieve the real objectives of LG Machinery – By Bernard Fernando.

‘Out of the box’ system changes to achieve the real

Moulding that led to 50 years of service in the Lord’s Vineyard – By Bernard Fernando The hallowed intention of this write up is to share the moulding process at home, with those families having potential to dedicate their family members to receive the vocation of holy sacrament of the Priesthood. Towards such end, we as siblings of Rt.Rev.Dr.Winston Fernando, S.S.S. the Bishop Emeritus of Badulla, having experienced and witnessed such a moulding process at our home, are humbly elated to recapitulate the same which encouraged Winston to take up this long and dedicated sacred assignment of service in the Lord’s Vineyard, as follows. Winston was born in Moratuwa on 16th January 1945, as the 2nd son to our enduring Catholic Parents viz. Joseph Eugene Victor Fernando (Govt. Servant) and Cecilia Pauline Gertrude (Dottie) Fernando (House wife) who eventually raised a family of 05 sons and 01 ...

Aug 31, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged Bishop Emeritus of Badulla, Catholics, Lord’s Vineyard, Rt.Rev.Dr.Winston Fernando

Exploit freely available Solar power via ‘Roof tops’ before calling tenders for large scale Solar Power projects on Land/ Water bodies. – By Bernard Fernando. It is reported in the Press that the controversial large scale ‘Adani green energy project’(Wind and Solar) has been cancelled inter alia due to unreasonably high tariff rates, pre-operational costs such as for research, site investigations, feasibility studies, and environmental assessments etc. compounded by procedural breaches and sustainability concerns. In the same vein, it is reported that the authorities are poised to go for a new tender, avoiding so called pitfalls of ‘Adani Project’. Against this challenging backdrop, the writer opines that we should first pluck the ubiquitous ‘Lower hanging fruits’ found in more permanent, amply available ‘Solar energy’ which can be tapped by Solar Panels installed on freely available space of a readymade ‘Roof top’ infrastructure. Additionally, since the investors themselves will very likely ...

Jul 24, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged Adani green energy project’, Solar power, Solar power via ‘Roof tops

Towards a robust ‘Representative Democracy’ via 100% Proportional Representation (PR) and ‘Country-first’ Nominations in merit order basis – By Bernard Fernando. The original Proportional Representation (PR) system of 1978, is despised by sections of the general public and the academia, due to the notion created by its political critics that it was brought in to sustain the then Govt. in power which has since been proved wrong. In fact, by default, it aimed to abide by the tenet of recognizing maximum No. of valid votes for the allocation of seats among Parties, to greater and more equitable extent than the old Westminster style ‘First –Past the Post (FPP) system which relied on the saying ‘Winner takes it all‘. Despite PR being an arithmetical device, it received a double whammy when the critics leveled another unfair charge, when it’s optional adjunct viz. ‘Preference voting’ mechanism opened the doors to selfish, power ...

Jun 26, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged 1978 Constitution electoral system, electoral reform Sri Lanka, Equal value vote Sri Lanka, Fair elections Sri Lanka, Political System Change Sri Lanka, proportional representation Sri Lanka, Representative democracy Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka voting system reform

‘Out of the box’ system changes to achieve the real objectives of LG Machinery – By Bernard Fernando. I was energized to pen this piece, having read with interest, the following articles in the press. ‘’Change of LG representatives’’ in the Sinhala press of 25th Feb. 2025 by veteran journalist Kusal Perera explosively exposing the manoeuvers by power hungry political party leaders abusing the very objectives of the LG machinery, to achieve their selfish and ulterior political motives, underscoring the need for ‘System Change’. 2.“Let creative and enterprising people head local bodies, not those with party affiliations” in the English Press of 19th May 2025 by W.A.Wijewardena-Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank also underscoring the need for ‘System Change’. “LG polls: Voting for ghosts in a flawed system” -An Editorial in the English press dealing with the skewed LG election system that has thrown up hung councils around the ...

May 28, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged LG, LG Machinery

CEB proposed wind farm facilities in Mullikulam: A response – By Bernard Fernando In my recent article that appeared in a foreign Sri Lankan news website on the above subject, I highlighted the obvious disadvantages of Wind power (such as high Capital expenditure for Machinery and Construction; high Repair and high Maintenance costs to access machinery located at higher altitudes using specialized machinery and labour; effects arising from vagaries of nature – Rusting and Cyclones etc.; larger space required, discouraging human habitat and the more fluctuating nature of wind as a source rather than the Sun which in itself is a more permanent source of power) over Solar Power. Having stated so, I requested the readers to tax their ‘Common sense’ and /or Grey matter to highlight the corresponding advantages/disadvantages of Solar Power. As regards the common storage problem, I solicited technical opinion to throw light on the matter. Alluding ...

Apr 8, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged Bernard Fernando Articles, CEB wind farm project, Energy storage in renewables, Environmental impact of wind power, Mullikulam wind farm proposal, Renewable energy Sri Lanka, Solar energy benefits, Solar vs wind energy Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka energy policy, Sustainable energy solutions Sri Lanka, Wind energy disadvantages, Wind power in Sri Lanka, Wind turbine maintenance issues

CEB calls for proposals to develop two 50MW wind farm facilities in Mullikulam – By Bernard Fernando The captioned news item appearing in the press, a couple of days ago amidst talks on re-consideration of ‘Adani proposed wind farm’ in Mannar, prompted the writer to make the following observations on fundamental issues where Wind Power Projects (WPP) look unattractive compared to Solar Power Projects (SPP) in Sri Lanka’s context whether it be on Build, Operate and Own (BOO) or Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. Capital expenditure (Machinery and Construction) for Wind power projects are obviously higher due to CIF and local transport cost of Heavy Machinery and specialized labour requirement etc. Repair and Maintenance costs for Wind power projects are higher. (Need to access machinery located at higher altitudes using specialized machinery and labour etc.) The effects arising from vagaries of nature ( Rusting and Cyclones etc.) A specifically ...

Mar 27, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged 50MW wind farm Mullikulam, CEB wind energy development, Green energy solutions, Mullikulam renewable energy, Renewable energy investments, Sri Lanka energy sector, Sri Lanka wind farm, Sustainable energy projects, Wind power projects Sri Lanka, Wind vs. solar power Sri Lanka

Prioritise People based Constitution making- A depoliticised method – By Bernard Fernando It is well known that the silent majority of the sovereign voters across the country elected the new President and his team as the only political party fully committed to creating a new political, public and media culture through a series of crucial ‘Political and Electoral System Changes’ via a New Constitution ‘by the People and for the People’. Towards that end, they have overwhelmingly succeeded in, a) precipitating the elusive National reconciliation effort by building pillars of ‘Sri Lankan ness’ in the four corners in North, South, East and West of the Country; b) setting live examples of ‘System change’ by nominating more Political Professionals and Women to the Parliament; c) curtailing Govt. expenditure by reducing privileges to MPs such as duty free vehicles, and princely meals at heavily subsidized rates ; d) celebrating Independence ...

Mar 9, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged Citizen-driven constitution, Constitutional reforms Sri Lanka, Electoral reforms Sri Lanka, Good governance reforms, People-based Governance, Political system Sri Lanka, Role of National Elections Commission, Sri Lanka Constitution

Make the new Constitution a Document solely by the People and for the People – By Bernard Fernando. At the outset, it should be stated that the silent majority of the sovereign voters across the country were able to elect the new President and his team as the only political party fully committed to creating a new political, public and media culture in our homeland through a series of crucial ‘System Changes’ via a new Constitution. Towards that end, they have exceptionally succeeded in the elusive National reconciliation effort by building pillars of ‘Sri Lankan ness’ in the four corners in the North, South, East and West of the Country. They have already set examples of ‘System change’ by nominating Political Professionals and more Women to the Parliament. Also, we raise our hats for ‘Charity begins at home’ measures to curtail expenditure by reducing privileges to MPs such as duty ...

Mar 5, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged Bernard Fernando Articles, Electoral reforms Sri Lanka, Good governance Sri Lanka, New Constitution of Sri Lanka 2024, People's Constitution Sri Lanka, People-based Governance, Political Culture Change Sri Lanka, Political System Change Sri Lanka, Political System Overhaul, Role of NEC Sri Lanka, System change Sri Lanka

HEC: A long-term solution for country’s sake – By Bernard Fernando In 2019, the Department of Wildlife Conservation published its policy statement in the newspapers seeking public opinion. Since the long-term proposals that the writer submitted to the department, to terminate the long drawn Human Elephant-Conflict (HEC) did not receive much response, several articles, updating the facts and proposals contained therein, were published in Sinhala and English newspapers from time to time until 2022, to mobilise the public and the relevant authorities including the Director General of Wildlife. Now, the sincere and vehement protests of the helpless farmers have come to the fore with strong media support. It is needless to say that the tragic destruction of the homes and properties of the helpless, poor farmers who make farming their sole livelihood, as well as of the crops, trees and plots of land cultivated with hard labour, has triggered great ...

Jan 23, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged Balancing human and wildlife populations, Bernard Fernando HEC proposals, Elephant conservation vs human needs, Human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan farmers and elephant threats, Sustainable solutions to HEC, Wildlife conservation Sri Lanka, Wildlife conservation strategies, Wildlife policy in Sri Lanka

Allow the number of MPs to be elected rationally and transparently based on actual Election results. – By Bernard Fernando The writer’s attention was drawn to the recent press release issued by the Elections Secretariat on the above matter, as it is one of the 3 main reasons distorting the equal value of vote envisaged country wide, under the Proportional Representation (PR) system. From time to time since 2015 Election, the writer as a sovereign voter has been updating his package of crucial Reforms /‘System changes’ to rationalise and simplify our existing political and electoral systems by highlighting an analysis of the results of 2015 and 2020 General Elections. They were published accordingly in the Sinhala and English National Press. The writer was also invited for a presentation to senior Election Dept. Officials at the Elections Secretariat by the former Chairman of National Election Commission (NEC) in 2017. The package ...

Oct 7, 2024 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged 2020 General Election Sri Lanka, Constitutional reforms Sri Lanka, election results, Election results Sri Lanka 2020, Election system reforms, Election transparency, Electoral process transparency, Electoral reforms Sri Lanka, Electoral system changes, General Election results analysis, Meritocratic democracy, National Election Commission (NEC) Sri Lanka, Parliamentary seat allocation, Party quotas election, Political representation Sri Lanka, Proportional Representation (PR), Proportional vote distribution, Sri Lankan election system, Sri Lankan politics, Voter equality Sri Lanka, Voting system reforms