Norwegian Ambassador opens Sri Lanka’s first floating solar plant during visit to north

Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal meeting Northern Governor Charles 

Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal visited Jaffna and Kilinochchi from 22 to 24 January.  The highlight of her visit to the north was the opening of Sri Lanka’s first-ever floating solar

Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal meeting Mayor of Jaffna Emmanuel Arnold

plant with a capacity of 42KW located at the Kilinochchi campus of the Jaffna University. 

The project is a result of the research collaboration since 2017 between the University of Jaffna and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo.

During her visit to Jaffna, she called on the Northern Province Governor P.S.M. Charles with whom she discussed matters of mutual interest on a wide array of subjects ranging from livelihood and business development, fisheries sector development, women’s empowerment to the importance of clean energy. 

She also met with Commander of Security Forces – Jaffna Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya and discussed the current developments in Jaffna. Ambassador Eskedal also called on the Mayor of Jaffna Municipal Council Emmanuel Arnold and Jaffna District Secretary N. Vethanayagan with whom she discussed economic development.

In addition to these meetings with Government officials, she also met with a number of representatives from civil society organisations and partners who implement projects on empowerment of women and their livelihoods supported by the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo. 

The Norwegian Ambassador who assumed duties in August 2019 has also travelled to the Central province and met with representatives of the government and civil society organisations to understand Sri Lanka’s socio cultural setting. She is also expected to travel to the Southern and Eastern provinces in the near future. 

Floating solar panel

Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal meeting JSFHQ Commander Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya

Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal opening the floating solar panel in Kilinochchi