(Email: parajayasinghe@gmail.com)
The true nature and potential of Bio Energy in Sri Lanka is unique. It has the advantage of a sustainable use of biomass, as a renewable resource for energy, including power generation. It is incorrect to surmise that Sri Lanka is too small with a dearth of lands for plantations, or will be confronted with deforestation; be saddled with a high cost of maintaining of energy plantations; or the undesirability of monoculture plantations. Sri Lanka is fortunate that it has the options available in harnessing its bio energy without any detrimental effects. Here we have to salute the pioneering work of late Vidya Jothi Dr Ray Wijewardene and Eng P G Joseph. They who tirelessly showed the way over the past several decades to create the awareness that Sri Lanka is uniquely placed to generate sustainable renewable bio energy, using sustainably grown, short rotation coppicing tree species such as Gliricidia Sepium, with multiple benefits spanning many sectors. These efforts are yet to be appreciated adequately.