Sri Lanka, Sept. 11 -- The government has decided to implement Sri Lanka's first pilot canal-top solar power project along the Viyana Canal in Mahiyanganaya.

A progress review discussion regarding the project was held recently (09) at the Parliament complex, co-chaired by Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyarathna and Minister of Energy Anura Karunathilaka.

Under the initial phase of the project, solar panels will cover a 5-kilometre stretch of the Viyana Canal to generate a capacity of 5 megawatts of electricity.

Minister Samantha Vidyarathna highlighted that while conventional solar power plants require substantial land areas, mounting solar panels above canals eliminates additional land requirements.

A...