Sri Lanka to expand power grid to unlock renewable energy

President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake agreed to allocate Treasury funds to expand the nation's electricity transmission network. This step will enable renewable energy generated in Mannar, Hambantota and other regions to join the national grid, alongside plans to build four additional transmission lines, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka informed Parliament.

Responding to a question from Opposition Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake yesterday (21), Minister Karunathilaka stated that inadequate transmission infrastructure, rather than generation capacity, forms the main barrier to integrating more renewable energy into the national power system.

He noted that although renewable energy plants were constructed in the past, the necessary transmission lines to feed that electricity into the main grid were omitted. Work is currently advancing on the transmission system connected to the Sampur power project.

The initial project plan targeted a 300-megawatt capacity, but officials decided to double it to 600 megawatts, with ongoing developments expected to proceed without major delays. Lack of infrastructure previously blocked power generated in Mannar and Hambantota from fully joining the grid.

Discussions with the President secured Treasury funding for the expansion, which remains critical for absorbing renewable power, alongside the planned construction of four new lines.