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NERD provides cheaper testing of solar power systems
By Naomi Gunasekara
The National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERD) at Ekala began providing testing facilities to suppliers and manufacturers of Solar PV and Solar Home Systems (SHS) at its newly set up testing unit last week.

It is the first time that such a testing facility has been established in Sri Lanka to provide suppliers and manufacturers of Solar PV and Solar Home Systems with facilities to test their products.

According to Kumara Perera, Head of Technology Marketing, NERD was assigned to set up this testing facility by the Renewable Energy and Energy Capacity Building Project sponsored by UNDP and GEF. "We have not finalised the charges yet. But it will definitely be cheap," he told The Sunday Times Business Desk.

Manufacturers and suppliers of Solar PV and SHS had been previously compelled to test their products abroad in order to determine whether the products met with the standards set. "Testing was done abroad and it cost over Rs. 100, 000. But with the facility being available in Sri Lanka at the NERD Centre our manufacturers will be able to test their products at a cheaper price."
Testing these products is important, according to Perera, because there are international specifications to be met by the suppliers and manufacturers of these products.

"We have all the necessary technologies to do the testing at the Centre and are assisted by the UNDP and the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands."
In testing the Solar PV and SHS systems the Centre will use modern equipment like spire array testers, data acquisition systems, temperature scanners, precision power supplies, integrating sphere photometers and power analysers.

PV modules will be tested according to IEC 61215 specifications accepted internationally while charge regulation and DC fluorescent lamps will be tested in accordance with international testing standards like UL, IEC, CENELEC and PV gap.

ADB provides US$ 700 mln assistance to Sri Lanka
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has earmarked US$ 700 million in project financing and US$ 11 million in technical assistance for Sri Lanka's development between 2003 to 2005.

A Country Programme Mission visited Sri Lanka from 27 March to 8 April to discuss the 2003-2005 Country Programme. The portfolio for 2003-2005 is based on the country's performance and ADB's country and sector strategy, a bank statement said.

"Continued ADB support to particular sectors will require demonstrated progress in strengthening the sector policy and institutional environment and continued support will be provided to the sectors that demonstrate satisfactory progress," said Ms. Sophia Ho, Senior Programme Officer for Sri Lanka who led the mission. A Memorandum of Understanding between the government and ADB was signed last week by Charitha Ratwatte, Secretary to the Treasury, on behalf of the government, and by Ms. Sophia Ho on behalf of ADB. The government and ADB agree that poverty reduction would be effectively addressed through promoting the necessary environment for achieving a sustainable higher level of economic growth.

ADB's assistance in 2003-2005 will focus on seven sectors: (i) agriculture and rural development, (ii) transport - ports and roads, (iii) energy, (iv) finance, (v) education (including informal education), (vi) water supply and sanitation and urban development with strategic regional focus, and (vii) environment and natural resources management. It was also agreed that ADB assistance will be extended to support the government's overall efforts in post-conflict planning and rehabilitation.

In the 2003-2005 lending pipeline, 13 loan projects have been identified with the main allocation and lending to Sri Lanka from the Asian Development Fund, ADB's concessional window. The technical assistance pipeline includes 14 projects totaling US$11 million in grant assistance, which mainly supports project preparatory activities including necessary sector road map formulation, monitoring, and updating.

Hameedia at Main Street
The latest addition to the Hameedia chain of men's clothing shops was opened recently at 69, Main Street, Pettah. It was declared open by the chief guest, Hon. Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs Mr. Johnston Fernando a press release said.
This new show room in the heart of Colombo has great potential and is well quipped to facilitate all customer requirements.

This spacious two-storied show room has a fine collection of clothing catering to the whole family, which includes ladies designer Salwar Kahmeez and children's wear as well. Keeping to the traditions of Hameedia, this shop too offers a wide selection of men's clothing and accessories from international brand names through the franchises held by Hameedia. Its selection of exclusive men's wear designs also includes shirts, trousers, suits, Jackets, safari suits shervani, jodipuri and tuxedos.
Speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director assured that only Original quality products supplied by International Brand names will be sold at Hameedia. It is probably one of the only outlet in Pettah that can offer a wide range of high quality original clothing of Lebond, Envoy, Signature, Louis Phillip, Van Heusen, Raymond, Adidas Duke, Trigger, Lee and Arrow etc which reflects the ultimate in style... The minister was happy to note that the open economy introduced by the late J.R. Jayewardene has come a long way and shopping at Pettah is now booming.
This is the 10th Hameedia showroom and the 15th belonging to the Hameedia Group. In catering to the Pettah shopper, this new showroom will also have a wide selection of Suiting and Ready made garments of high quality.

Headmasters of Gateway in UK on a study tour
Somabandhu Kodikara and Asoka Herath, headmasters of Gatewy International Schools, Colombo and Kandy visited the United Kingdom on a study tour to observe the teaching learning programmes and administrative strategies in different typs of schools in UK a press release said.

They visited several prestigious and long established public schools like Eton, Dulwich College, Tonbridge College and Epsom College which are among the best selective schools. They also observed the ADT School, which is one of the eleven specialised schools sponsored by the corporate sector.

Gateway has a unique teacher exchange programme under which the teachers of the school are sent to UK in order to obtain first hand experience of the teaching learning programmes as conducted in schools in that country under the new British system. At the same time teachers and educationists of repute from UK are invited to Sri Lanka to share their experiences and knowlege. It is envisaged that this programme will accommodate students too in the future.

"mOre" Mobitel completes one year
Mobitel's pre-paid card, "mOre" completed one year recently a press release said. Introduced in January last year, the pre-paid card has become a popular option among Mobitel customers the press release futher said. The card was introduced to the local market under the theme of "More katha, more wasana" which promises more airtime at reasonable rates.

"When we first introduced the card, we did not expect the response that we actually received. The card became popular among a varied market, more versatile than we anticipated," says a company spokesperson.

There are five denominations from which the customer can choose the one that fits his needs and most importantly his budget. The prices range from 350 rupees to 5000 rupees. The 350-rupee card has become more popular among the young working segment while the business sector prefers the latter.

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