False Claims of Sri Lankan Government Distributing Free Solar Panels to the General Public

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In countries like Sri Lanka, pursuing sustainable energy solutions is imperative due to environmental concerns and the need for energy independence. However, amidst this urgency, misleading information proliferates, particularly regarding government initiatives such as the purported distribution of free solar panels.

While the intention behind such posts is to promote renewable energy adoption, they often lack factual basis and can lead to confusion among the public. It's crucial for individuals to verify the authenticity of such claims and for authorities to ensure transparent communication regarding actual sustainable energy programs to address the country's energy needs effectively.

Social Media Posts

A viral social media post asserts that the Sri Lankan government is launching a project to distribute free solar panels to the general public.

FB | Archived

Users commented on it like below.

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

While many users who had interacted with the post had requested more details, the link provided with the viral post only directed to a few search results related to solar panels. It has no connection to any government-affiliated website. Archived

Additionally, mainstream media outlets have not reported any such initiative by the Sri Lankan government.

Ranjith Sepala, the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) chairman, confirmed that no such initiative exists to provide free solar panels to the general public. He clarified that while the government does plan to distribute free solar panels, it is limited to religious places and is funded by an Indian government grant. However, this project has not yet commenced and is currently being processed.

However, the Sri Lanka government has partnered with several stakeholders to create projects to increase access to a clean and reliable power supply in Sri Lanka. The “Rooftop Solar PV Power Generation Project” is one such project that provides electricity consumers with long-term debt financing for installing rooftop solar photovoltaic power generation systems in Sri Lanka. Similarly, special loan schemes are available in most state and private sector banks to support sustainable energy and eco-friendly products, including purchasing solar power systems.

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Conclusion:

The claim that the Sri Lankan government currently distributes free solar panels to the general public is false. Individuals should exercise caution and verify the authenticity of such claims before sharing them on social media platforms.