Parliamentary committee calls for mandatory standards for imported EVs and batteries

Newswire reports that the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Science, Technology and Digital Transformation discussed making regulations, technical benchmarks and certification compulsory for electric vehicles, batteries, controllers and charging stations brought into Sri Lanka. MP Dr. Janaka Senarathna chaired the recent meeting.

Newswire reports that officials said the Sri Lanka National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERDC) is equipped to assess battery capacity, durability and lifespan. They also pointed to the lack of required standards and certification for imported EV technology.

Newswire says the committee considered safety requirements for converting petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles to electric operation. Other research-related topics included improving state research bodies, responding to shortages of staff and better turning research and new ideas into commercial products.

Newswire reports that participants also discussed incubation centres linked to universities and electric-fencing initiatives intended to reduce human-elephant conflict. They considered a proposed change to the Intellectual Property Act that would create a Petty Patent system to safeguard inventors and help bring inventions to market.