"By creating this regional centre that will focus solely on the development of affordable, clean, and accessible sources of electricity, we can ensure that future generations receive the benefits of electricity, while at the same time protecting our natural environment."
The US Agency for International Development (USAID), the development agency of the US government, partnered with the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority and the Lighting Research Center, USA to create the new lighting centre.
It is known as the Regional Center for Energy Efficient Lighting in Sri Lanka (RCEEL).
The Lighting Research Center is part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York, and is a leading university-based research centre devoted to lighting.
USAID provided up to 800,000 dollars (95 million rupees) of initial funding for the regional centre through its South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/E) program.
SARI/E promotes more efficient regional energy resource use, works toward transparent and profitable energy practices, mitigates the environmental impacts of energy production, and increases regional access to energy, the statement said.
SARI/E countries include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The opening of the centre coincided with a workshop on energy efficient lighting in Colombo.
The workshop brought together experts in lighting technology from the United States, Sri Lanka, and other countries in South Asia to help increase access to electricity, seen as a critical factor in economic development in the region.
Sri Lanka's Minister of Power and Energy, W D J Seniviratne told the workshop that RCEEL will function as an institute to facilitate research that promotes the development of efficient lighting technologies.
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