General11 September 2026

Sri Lanka plans first canal-top solar project

Sri+Lanka+plans+first+canal-top+solar+project

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.

Although the technology represents a new initiative for Sri Lanka, canal-top solar systems are already utilized internationally. Following the evaluation of the pilot project's performance along the Viyana Canal, authorities plan to extend the renewable energy model to other suitable waterways across the island.

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