Strategic roadmap towards a cleaner, sustainable and people-centric energy future

By Ifham Nizam

As Sri Lanka gears up for a transformative shift in its energy sector, the Results Delivery Framework (RDF) 2025-26 lays out a strategic roadmap toward a cleaner, more sustainable and people-centric energy future.

Eng. Pubudu Niroshan Hedigallage, Director General, Power Sector Reforms Secretariat and a member of the Energy Committee, emphasizes the critical role of public awareness and global integration in achieving these ambitious goals.

“The success of our energy transition depends on people being on the same page, says Hedigallage. “We need a unified approach where policies align with public interest, ensuring energy security while reducing our carbon footprint.”

The RDF focuses on three main pillars:

Affordable and Secure, Cleaner Energy Supply

Smart and Sensible, People-Centric Energy

Strategic Global Integration in the Energy Sector

To achieve energy security and affordability, Sri Lanka is set to establish a National Energy Policy & Planning Office (NEPPO) in the first half of 2025. This office will serve as the central body for policy formulation and planning, ensuring a structured approach to clean energy adoption.

A key initiative is the “Rivi Bala Punarudaya” solar program, aiming to add 2,000 MW of solar energy within five years. “Solar power is one of the most viable solutions for Sri Lanka. It’s time to accelerate large-scale adoption, Hedigallage asserts.

Additionally, the government plans to begin competitive procurement for 1,000 MW of wind energy along the Puttalam-Jaffna coastal belt by mid-2025.

Hedigallage stresses the importance of policy reforms to align industrial and regulatory frameworks. “Introducing the Energy Transition Act in late 2025 will harmonize all sector-related laws, ensuring smoother implementation of new initiatives, he explains.

Other people-centric initiatives include:

Amendments to the Electricity Act to facilitate restructuring within the energy sector.

A Demand Response Program, developed with the Ministry of Digital Economy, to optimize energy consumption.

A techno-commercial collaboration program connecting universities, industries and utilities to drive innovation.

The Women-in-Energy National Program, launching in late 2025, to increase female participation in the sector.

Recognizing the importance of international collaboration, the RDF aims to position Sri Lanka as a key player in the global energy market.

A state agency for green hydrogen initiatives will be established in late 2025 to explore hydrogen as an alternative energy source.

By early 2026, a digital risk management dashboard will be launched to monitor reservoir levels, fuel inventories, and energy demand in real time.

The Green Energy Certification Unit, to be established in 2026, will authenticate renewable energy usage with Renewable Energy Certificates (REC).

ESG (Environment, Sustainability, and Governance) frameworks will be introduced to ensure sustainable energy sector practices.

A global energy forum will be launched in 2026 to connect Sri Lanka to international energy value chains.

With these ambitious plans, Sri Lanka is set to become a leader in clean energy in the region. “Our energy future is not just about technology and infrastructure; it’s about people, policy, and partnerships, Hedigallage added.