Sri Lanka: energy, development and resource use

Sri Lanka provides an interesting case study of the problems of energy and development. Because of the implementation of large-scale projects, notably the Mahaweli program, there is currently a surplus of biomass for household consumption. In future years, however, the difficulty in obtaining wood fuel for households will increase substantially and will exert pressure on the commercial fuelwood market. The Sri Lanka case demonstrates that the problems with meeting people's energy needs and sustaining supplies are evident even in those countries not currently perceived as facing an energy crisis.