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CEB proposed wind farm facilities in Mullikulam: A response – By Bernard Fernando CEB calls for proposals to develop two 50MW wind farm facilities in Mullikulam – By Bernard Fernando Prioritise People based Constitution making- A depoliticised method – By Bernard Fernando Make the new Constitution a Document solely by the People and for the People – By Bernard Fernando.

Bernard Fernando

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 In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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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 In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
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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 In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged , , , , , , ,
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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 In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
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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 In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged , , , , , , , ,
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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 In Articles, Bernard Fernando Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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