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2009-02-24
Good morning everyone. On behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, I would like to welcome our guests here today from the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority. I would especially like to welcome Dr. Deheragoda, the chairman of the Authority.
I am very pleased that you are here to officially sign the memorandum of understanding between USAID and the Sustainable Energy Authority that will create the Regional Center for Energy Efficient Lighting here in Sri Lanka.
The Regional Center for Energy Efficient Lighting is an example of technological cooperation between the United States and South Asian nations that has the potential to make countries more energy efficient and to protect the environment.
This initiative is part of USAID’s South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy or SARI/Energy. This program recognizes that access to energy and economic growth are closely linked. SARI/Energy promotes regional energy security through increased energy diversification, reduced prices, and improved accessibility for consumers.
So, it is appropriate that this Center, the first of its kind in South Asia, will be here in Sri Lanka. We are hopeful that the Center will create linkages among neighboring countries to strengthen energy security in the region.
The Center will be a place where new ideas and best practices in lighting technology can be shared. Companies and inventors will receive guidance on design practices and product testing to maintain high quality and performance standards. Manufacturers will receive technical assistance to improve productivity and profitability.
At USAID, we believe that the ultimate goal of the Center is to improve the lives of Sri Lankans by increasing their access to energy technology. We are especially committed to bringing new technologies to communities in the East and the North, so that conflict-affected communities can create sustainable jobs and increase business opportunities.
This partnership will also support USAID’s commitment to work with conflict-affected populations in the East to help them rebuild safer, more prosperous communities. In all the programming we do, USAID strives to ensure that our programs “do no harm”, that they are conflict sensitive, and that all ethnic groups equitably benefit from what we do.
Finally, I want to thank Dr. Geheragoda for working with USAID to create this new strategic alliance that will develop the Regional Center for Energy Efficient Lighting and create economic opportunities for communities in Eastern and Northern Sri Lanka.
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