News
Battery storage drive to power Sri Lanka’s renewable leap
Sri Lanka is poised for a decisive breakthrough in its clean energy transition with the government moving to introduce large-scale battery energy storage for the first time in the country’s history — a development that could fundamentally transform how electricity is generated, managed and consumed.
Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament of Sri Lanka that a 160-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) will be constructed within the next six months, marking the single biggest technological leap yet in Sri Lanka’s power sector.
In parallel, tenders will soon be called for a further 300 MW battery storage facility, signalling the government’s intention to embed energy storage at the core of future power planning.
The announcement was made in response to a question raised by MP Suranga Ratnayake, with the Minister underlining that battery storage is no longer optional but a strategic necessity if Sri Lanka is to fully capitalise on its rapidly expanding renewable energy capacity.
“We are strengthening the transmission network while taking the initial steps to integrate battery storage systems alongside future solar power plants on selected lands,” Minister Jayakody said. “Our objective is to ensure that renewable energy can be absorbed into the national grid without instability or wastage.”
Energy sector analysts have long warned that Sri Lanka’s grid is structurally ill-equipped to handle the variability of solar and wind power. While renewable generation has grown steadily, large volumes of clean electricity are often curtailed during peak production hours due to the lack of storage and limited grid flexibility. The result has been a paradox where green energy exists, but cannot always be used.
The introduction of battery energy storage systems is expected to change that equation. By storing surplus electricity and releasing it during peak demand or low generation periods, batteries effectively convert intermittent renewables into stable, dispatchable power. This, in turn, reduces reliance on expensive thermal plants, lowers fuel imports, and enhances overall grid resilience.
Minister Jayakody said the new systems would also play a critical role in reducing the risk of power disruptions and in cutting long-term electricity costs. “Without storage, we are forced to fall back on fossil fuels even when renewable energy is available. Battery systems allow us to break that dependency and move towards a truly modern power system,” he said.
The move represents a clear shift in national energy policy — from merely adding renewable capacity to building an intelligent, future-ready power infrastructure. Integrating storage with solar parks and strengthening transmission lines are expected to unlock large-scale private sector investment, improve energy security, and align Sri Lanka more closely with global decarbonisation trends.
For a country grappling with high energy costs, foreign exchange pressures and climate vulnerability, the battery storage initiative is being seen not just as a technological upgrade, but as a strategic intervention with economic, environmental and geopolitical implications.
By Ifham Nizam
News
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.
By Norman Palihawadane
The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.
The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.
The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.
The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.
Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.
The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.
Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.
Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.
The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.
Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.
Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.
The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces.
Harshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth
‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban
Dengue death toll rises to 73
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‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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