{"id":21764,"date":"2024-03-01T07:00:11","date_gmt":"2024-02-29T20:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/?p=21764"},"modified":"2024-03-01T18:55:38","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T07:55:38","slug":"meet-the-women-steering-sri-lankas-industries-away-from-fossil-fuels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/meet-the-women-steering-sri-lankas-industries-away-from-fossil-fuels\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the women steering Sri Lanka\u2019s industries away from fossil fuels"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"21764\" class=\"elementor elementor-21764\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e7ba1b1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e7ba1b1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-828213a\" data-id=\"828213a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-523db0c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"523db0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font size: 0,9em;\">They are helping some of the country\u2019s largest businesses save energy and money while tackling the climate crisis.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45988eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"45988eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Energy-Savers-IWD-GROUP-cut.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Energy-Savers-IWD-GROUP-cut.jpg 800w, https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Energy-Savers-IWD-GROUP-cut-600x423.jpg 600w, https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Energy-Savers-IWD-GROUP-cut-768x541.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Energy-Savers-IWD-GROUP-cut-520x367.jpg 520w\" width=\"800\" height=\"564\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-21769 lazyload\" alt=\"Energy Savers - IWD GROUP\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"564\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Energy-Savers-IWD-GROUP-cut.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-21769\" alt=\"Energy Savers - IWD GROUP\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Energy-Savers-IWD-GROUP-cut.jpg 800w, https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Energy-Savers-IWD-GROUP-cut-600x423.jpg 600w, https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Energy-Savers-IWD-GROUP-cut-768x541.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Energy-Savers-IWD-GROUP-cut-520x367.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"><\/noscript>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">From the left, top: Sashika Kaluwahewa, Shirangi Samararatne, Nadeera Ramanayake and Arosha Hemali. Bottom left: Gayathri Sawindika Liyanage, Dilakshi Liyanage and Asanka Kodithuwakku<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b6694a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4b6694a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>2023 was ranked the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/access\/monitoring\/monthly-report\/global\/202313#:~:text=The%20year%202023%20was%20the,decade%20(2014%E2%80%932023).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hottest year on record<\/a>. It was also the year world leaders closed the annual climate summit with an agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvements. Delivering on these promises will hinge on how fast industries can green their operations and supply chains. Worldwide, industries are responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n<p>For Sri Lanka, &#8211; one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change &#8211; the stakes couldn\u2019t be higher. Industries consume large quantities of the fossil fuel imports; they employ 30 per cent of the island nation&#8217;s workforce and deliver the second highest share of GDP.<\/p>\n<p>Luckily, a small but growing number of Sri Lankan women are on the job. Their titles and roles vary but they&#8217;ve all been trained to audit and oversee complex energy systems in industrial manufacturing plants. Some have achieved the international ISO 50001 certification &#8211; the gold standard of energy management &#8211; championed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), while others are preparing to sit the exam later this year.<\/p>\n<p>In their respective organizations, the energy and sustainability experts are taking action: insulating steam lines; installing vapor absorption chillers and capacitor banks; formulating energy saving policies and training staff to implement the new measures. In some cases they\u2019ve built biomass boiler plants or installed solar technologies to completely slash pollution from burning fossil fuels.<\/p>\n<p>To mark this year\u2019s International Women\u2019s Day, we are amplifying their efforts to inspire others &#8211; particularly younger women &#8211; to follow suit. The clean energy transition in Sri Lanka needs all hands on deck, including many <a href=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/to-succeed-sri-lankas-transition-towards-a-climate-resilient-and-sustainable-economy-needs-many-more-women\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more women<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9804d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b9804d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u201cEnergy is a hot topic\u201d<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9dad22c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9dad22c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_21885\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Asanka-Kodithuwakku-Convenience-Foods-Headshot-1-cut-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21885\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21885 lazyload\" alt=\"Asanka Kodithuwakku\" width=\"300\" height=\"409\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21885\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21885\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Asanka-Kodithuwakku-Convenience-Foods-Headshot-1-cut-1.jpg\" alt=\"Asanka Kodithuwakku\" width=\"300\" height=\"409\"><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-21885\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Asanka Kodithuwakku<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>A<\/strong><b>sanka Kodithuwakku<\/b>, Senior Executive on Sustainability at Convenience Foods Lanka, began her energy management training early last year amidst Sri Lanka\u2019s worst energy crisis. The country\u2019s reliance on imported fossil fuels put a major strain on government finances; businesses saw their operating costs skyrocket and everyone faced unprecedented petrol shortages.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEnergy is a hot topic these days,\u201d said Asanka back in January 2023. \u201cWe are facing an energy crisis \u2026 The electricity tariff rate has been going up day by day and it is very difficult to meet profitability.\u201d With an eye on a number of renewable solutions for the near future, setting up a robust energy management system across the entire operation has been a game-changer. \u201cWe have to have these kinds of [energy saving] initiatives. Without energy, we cannot run our business.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24af911 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"24af911\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_21884\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Shirangi-Samararatne-Super-Shine-Headshot-2-cut-2.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21884\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21884 lazyload\" alt=\"Shirangi Samararatne\" width=\"300\" height=\"434\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21884\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21884\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Shirangi-Samararatne-Super-Shine-Headshot-2-cut-2.jpg\" alt=\"Shirangi Samararatne\" width=\"300\" height=\"434\"><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-21884\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shirangi Samararatne<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Meanwhile, the effects of the climate crisis are hitting Sri Lankans hard. Super Shine Business Consultancies CEO, <b>Shirangi Samararatne<\/b>, who grew up enjoying the cooler weather in Central Sri Lanka, says temperatures are rising everywhere across the island. Droughts and floods are more frequent and unpredictable affecting everything from food and water supplies to hydropower production, which causes regular blackouts.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why Shirangi is doubling down on her efforts to help companies explore other clean sources of electricity and innovate with a mix of solutions. Her focus is on the smaller companies who, she says, are reliant on domestic markets, less exposed to global sustainability trends and risk falling behind. \u201cA knowledge gap exists, particularly among small businesses who have yet to grasp how managing energy effectively can reduce production costs.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-234bc39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"234bc39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u201cInspiring a culture of energy conservation\u201d <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd4bec4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bd4bec4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_21890\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sashika-Kaluwahewa-Jetwing-head-shot-cut-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21890\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21890 lazyload\" alt=\"Sashika Kaluwahewa\" width=\"300\" height=\"419\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21890\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21890\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sashika-Kaluwahewa-Jetwing-head-shot-cut-1.jpg\" alt=\"Sashika Kaluwahewa\" width=\"300\" height=\"419\"><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-21890\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sashika Kaluwahewa<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In industries of all sizes and sectors, changing how energy is valued and handled can be a challenge. <b>Sashika Kaluwahewa<\/b>, Sustainability Manager at Jetwing Hotels, knows this all too well. For the past decade she\u2019s helped the hotel chain implement a number of initiatives to build a sustainable business. Today, an impressive 60 per cent of the company\u2019s energy needs are met mostly by biomass and some solar, powering steam and water boilers in all their hotels.<\/p>\n<p>It hasn\u2019t always been easy, she says. \u201cIn some instances, staff who have been doing things a certain way for a long time are resistant to change.\u201d Sashika spends a lot of time buried in complex data to quantify and show the results of her efforts. But her secret for success lies in boosting awareness among staff and imparting sustainability training at all levels of the organization, starting with the new recruits. \u201cI believe that this approach will go beyond mere compliance, inspiring a culture of continuous improvement and energy conservation that will spread throughout our organization.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5882ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a5882ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_21889\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Arosha-Hemali-Insee-Headshot-2-cut-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21889\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21889 lazyload\" alt=\"Arosha Hemali\" width=\"300\" height=\"442\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21889\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21889\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Arosha-Hemali-Insee-Headshot-2-cut-1.jpg\" alt=\"Arosha Hemali\" width=\"300\" height=\"442\"><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-21889\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Arosha Hemali<\/p><\/div>\n<p>For energy expert, <b>Arosha Hemali<\/b>, managing energy more efficiently in industrial activity is essential and is helping to move the needle towards decarbonization. But for large and highly polluting industries, renewables must be part of the mix of solutions. \u201cThis can require high investments, but looking at the future it has to be done,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>As the former Business Development and Marketing Manager at INSEE Ecocycle Lanka, the waste management arm of the leading cement manufacturer in Sri Lanka, Arosha has significant experience with a range of technologies to substitute thermal energy needs. She says this helped her former employer save nearly half of the conventional energy used for the whole industry process.<\/p>\n<p>These achievements are promising given Sri Lanka\u2019s ambitious goals: the government aims for 70 per cent of energy in the country to come from renewable sources by 2030.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-127048f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"127048f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u201cA matter of gender equality and a strategic imperative\u201d <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c81577 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c81577\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_21886\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dilakshi-Liyanage-Hela-Clothing-Headshot-1-cut-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21886\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21886 lazyload\" alt=\"Dilakshi Liyanage\" width=\"300\" height=\"389\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21886\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21886\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dilakshi-Liyanage-Hela-Clothing-Headshot-1-cut-1.jpg\" alt=\"Dilakshi Liyanage\" width=\"300\" height=\"389\"><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-21886\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dilakshi Liyanage<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Beyond tackling the climate crisis, the transition to a cleaner and greener economy has plenty of other benefits, including the creation of high-quality jobs and opportunities for women. Globally, the International Labor Organization foresees <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenindustryplatform.org\/themes\/jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15-60 million<\/a> additional jobs linked to a green economy.<\/p>\n<p>Women\u2019s views and skills are also vital to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels and ensure that sustainability projects in the workplace keep everyone\u2019s needs front and center, argues <b>Dilakshi Liyanage<\/b>, a Senior Executive at Hela Apparel Holdings. \u201cInvolving more women is not only a matter of gender equality but is also a strategic imperative for creating more effective, inclusive, and sustainable solutions [to the climate crisis],\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>Dilakshi\u2019s own experience showcases this. In only two years she has significantly lowered her company\u2019s use of fossil fuels to generate electricity, and slashed the emissions of greenhouse gasses thanks to the installation of two biomass boiler plants. This is only the start of the company\u2019s sustainability journey, she says, \u201cnow I am actively involved in various solar projects\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ef22bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ef22bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_21887\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Gayathri-Liyanage-ITI-Headshot-2-cut-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21887\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21887 lazyload\" alt=\"Gayathri Liyanage\" width=\"300\" height=\"419\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21887\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21887\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Gayathri-Liyanage-ITI-Headshot-2-cut-1.jpg\" alt=\"Gayathri Liyanage\" width=\"300\" height=\"419\"><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-21887\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gayathri Liyanage<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But, despite the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oneearth.org\/why-women-are-key-to-solving-the-climate-crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">evidence<\/a> that women care more about the climate crisis and are good at implementing solutions, their career pathways in this field are still rocky. Research Engineer at the Industrial Technology Institute, <b>Gayathri Sawindika Liyanage<\/b>, says getting her first engineer job was a hurdle. She recalls vacancy announcements stating that only men\u2019s applications would be considered.<\/p>\n<p>Once in the job it also took time to break through the stereotypes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome clients seemed disappointed and reluctant to get my service as they believe such tasks are only meant for males,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Today, Gayathri conducts energy audits and advises all kinds of industries across the country on energy-saving options. Along with Dilakshi, she\u2019s enrolled in UNIDO\u2019s 2024 Energy Management Systems <a href=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/unido-and-ncpc-launch-second-year-of-successful-training-for-better-energy-management-across-industries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">training<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe8de3e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fe8de3e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u201cThe more energy savers there are, the more the country will benefit\u201d<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86f6cb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"86f6cb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_21888\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nadeera-Ramanayake-IDB-Headshot-2-cut-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21888\" class=\"wp-image-21888 size-full lazyload\" alt=\"Nadeera Ramanayake\" width=\"300\" height=\"353\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21888\" class=\"wp-image-21888 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nadeera-Ramanayake-IDB-Headshot-2-cut-1.jpg\" alt=\"Nadeera Ramanayake\" width=\"300\" height=\"353\"><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-21888\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nadeera Ramanayake<\/p><\/div>\n<p>As Assistant Director of Planning at the Industrial Development Board of Ceylon, <b>Nadeera Ramanayake<\/b> creates and implements strategies to grow the country\u2019s industries, and to support their recovery from the energy crisis. Climate change is a cross-cutting issue that concerns her deeply both at work and in her private life.<\/p>\n<p>Nadeera believes that small changes in our daily lives can also have an immense impact. She refers to women as being \u201ctruly aware of the exact consumption of energy for everyday activities\u201d and, she says, \u201ctheir input [in climate action] would show what we should most focus on.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>To accelerate progress, a priority in her view is to groom and train many more Sri Lankan women to take on leadership roles in their community and at work. Studies show that women in leadership roles are more likely to invest in renewable energy and, according to UNIDO, women excel at managing energy in households, communities and businesses.<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on UNIDO\u2019s energy management training and campaign, Nadeera says: \u201cThe more energy savers there are, the more the country will benefit.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd7fe8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bd7fe8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">To wrap up our conversation, some of the women shared words of encouragement to their younger peers.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dc58f7 elementor-arrows-position-outside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"8dc58f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:2500,&quot;slides_to_show_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;slides_to_show_tablet&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Image Carousel\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Quote-1-Dilakshi-Liyanage.jpg\" class=\"swiper-slide-image lazyload\" alt=\"Quote 1 Dilakshi Liyanage\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Quote-1-Dilakshi-Liyanage.jpg\" alt=\"Quote 1 Dilakshi Liyanage\"><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Quote-2-Gayathri-Sawindika-Liyanage.jpg\" class=\"swiper-slide-image lazyload\" alt=\"Quote 2 Gayathri Sawindika Liyanage\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Quote-2-Gayathri-Sawindika-Liyanage.jpg\" alt=\"Quote 2 Gayathri Sawindika Liyanage\"><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Quote-3-Nadeera-Ramanayake.jpg\" class=\"swiper-slide-image lazyload\" alt=\"Quote 3 Nadeera Ramanayake\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Quote-3-Nadeera-Ramanayake.jpg\" alt=\"Quote 3 Nadeera Ramanayake\"><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"4 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Quote-4-Shirangi-Samararatne.jpg\" class=\"swiper-slide-image lazyload\" alt=\"Quote 4 Shirangi Samararatne\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Quote-4-Shirangi-Samararatne.jpg\" alt=\"Quote 4 Shirangi Samararatne\"><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"5 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Quote-5-Asanka-Kodithuwakku.jpg\" class=\"swiper-slide-image lazyload\" alt=\"Quote 5 Asanka Kodithuwakku\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-content\/uploads\/Quote-5-Asanka-Kodithuwakku.jpg\" alt=\"Quote 5 Asanka Kodithuwakku\"><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-367340e elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"367340e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf344b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf344b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccelerating Industries\u2019 Climate Response in Sri Lanka is a project funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization with the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Power and Energy. The Energy Management Systems training is organized in collaboration with National Cleaner Production Centre, Sri Lanka.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>They are helping some of the country\u2019s largest businesses save energy and money while tackling the climate crisis. From the&#8230;  <a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/meet-the-women-steering-sri-lankas-industries-away-from-fossil-fuels\/\" title=\"ReadMeet the women steering Sri Lanka\u2019s industries away from fossil fuels\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":21894,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"our-work":[185,180],"class_list":["post-21764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","news_tag-article","our-work-gender-and-youth","our-work-industry-support","our-posts-news","wp-sticky"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21764"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21764\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21764"},{"taxonomy":"our-work","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vps138634.inmotionhosting.com\/~climate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/our-work?post=21764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}