New Delhi-based UNIDO Deputy Representative for South Asia Antonios Levissianos said there was potential to generate energy from waste.
"Waste management can be an important potential opportunity," said Levissianos, who was in Colombo for a project on bamboo processing organized by the UN Industrial Development Organisation.
"I see the energy sector becoming a very big player, particularly the renewable energy sector such as the mini-hydros."
Levissianos said future UNIDO plans for Sri Lanka could include support for the energy and renewable power sector, energy efficiency and medical and industrial waste management.
"Energy intervention simply because Sri Lanka is not generating oil but importing crude oil and the valuable export incomes are negated by huge payments for oil and power generation costs," he was quoted as saying in a joint statement by UNIDO and Sri Lanka's ministry of industry and commerce.
"Also, salinity in soil in the island appears to be on the increase, an are