News
Sri Lanka throws open landmark 250 MW Grid-Scale Battery Storage project to global investors
In a landmark move to modernise the national electricity grid and fast-track Sri Lanka’s clean energy transition, the National System Operator (Pvt.) Ltd. (NSO) has invited international competitive bids for the development of a 250 MW/1,000 MWh Standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)—the country’s largest grid-scale battery storage initiative to date.
The project, launched under the Ministry of Energy, is expected to play a pivotal role in stabilising the national grid as Sri Lanka accelerates the integration of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power.
The NSO has called for proposals under a Build, Own and Operate (BOO) model, with successful bidders entering into a 15-year Energy Storage Agreement (ESA).
The ambitious project will comprise 25 standalone battery storage facilities, each with a capacity of 10 MW/40 MWh, connected at the 33kV level across 25 strategically located grid substations.
These include Ambalangoda, Ampara, Bolawatta, Chunnakam, Galle, Hambantota, Kurunegala, Matara, Monaragala and several other key locations around the country.
Energy experts describe the tender as a major milestone in Sri Lanka’s power sector reforms, noting that large-scale battery storage has become indispensable for countries seeking to increase renewable energy while maintaining a reliable electricity supply.
Unlike conventional power plants, battery energy storage systems absorb excess electricity produced during periods of high renewable generation and dispatch it when demand rises or renewable output falls. This improves grid stability, reduces renewable energy curtailment, enhances frequency regulation and minimises reliance on expensive fossil fuel-based emergency power generation.
The tender is expected to attract leading global energy storage developers, battery manufacturers and infrastructure investors, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s emergence as an attractive destination for clean energy investment.
The initiative also complements the government’s long-term strategy to transform the national electricity sector through greater renewable energy penetration, lower generation costs and improved energy security.
According to the Request for Proposals (RFP), bidding documents will be available until 10.00 a.m. on August 13, 2026, while proposals must be submitted by 10.00 a.m. on August 14, 2026.
Power sector analysts believe the project could become a game-changer for Sri Lanka’s electricity network, enabling the country to accommodate significantly higher levels of renewable energy while improving the reliability and resilience of the national grid.
The project is also expected to reduce dependence on costly thermal generation during peak demand, lower carbon emissions and provide greater operational flexibility for the power system.
By Ifham Nizam
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal deep sea areas
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 05.00 p.m. 18 September 2026, valid for the next 24 hours.
PLEASE BE AWARE!
The atmospheric disturbance to the North of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, is likely to develop into a low pressure area within the next 24 hours.
Due to its influence, wind speed over the Bay of Bengal sea areas will increase during the next few days starting from
tomorrow (19th).
The wind speed in the sea areas marked under the “Advisory” category on the map below will increase to 55-65 kmph at times and those sea areas will be rough or very rough at times.
Navel and fishing communities engaging the activities over this sea area are advised to be vigilant and be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the department of Meteorology in this regards.
Text and Pic by Priyan de Silva
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake has questioned whether some promises contained in the National People’s Power (NPP) manifesto, A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life, could be fulfilled even if the government wanted to implement them.
Dissanayake raised the issue during a discussion following the release of the third biannual report on manifesto monitoring by the March 12 Movement, at the BMICH, on Wednesday.
He questioned whether the report had taken into account legal and institutional constraints affecting the implementation of certain pledges.
Citing the proposal to establish Anti-Corruption Investigation Offices in each district, Dissanayake said such offices could be established only with the agreement of CIABOC and that amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act would be necessary.
He also referred to the pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency, noting that successive governments had made similar commitments since 1994. He questioned whether there had been adequate consideration of where the powers vested in the Executive President would be transferred if the system were abolished.
On the proposal to establish a Public Prosecutor, Dissanayake questioned whether the Government intended to maintain the office alongside the Attorney General, who currently performs prosecution-related functions.
Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake said Dissanayake’s remarks should be regarded as his personal views and not as Government policy.
Monitoring and Evaluation Consultants M. Thilakarajah and D.D. Mataharaarachchi presented the third-phase findings, covering January to June 2026.
The corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, and Yoshitha Rajapaksa was set for a pre-trial conference by the Colombo High Court.
The case was taken up before the Colombo High Court on Thursday (17), when the accused, who are currently out on bail, appeared before the court. After considering the submissions made, the court ordered that the case be called for a pre-trial conference.
The CIABOC had filed the case against the accused, alleging that a corruption offence was committed by sending Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for training at the Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom despite him not having the required qualifications.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal
Showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya Districts
Some NPP manifesto promises may be difficult to fulfil – CIABOC DG
Yoshitha and ex-Navy chief Karannagoda’s case fixed for PTC
Court orders probe into Wimal’s rally speech
Court to rule on Dilith’s writ petition on September 30
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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