Business

Hour of reckoning comes for SL’s power sector

Published

6 months ago

2026/04/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Eng. Pubudu Niroshan

By Ifham Nizam

A long-delayed reckoning in Sri Lanka’s power sector is finally beginning to take shape—driven less by choice and more by necessity.

At a time when the country’s fragile economic recovery hinges on stability, the electricity sector—long plagued by inefficiency, political interference, and costly dependence on imported fuel—has re-emerged as both a risk and an opportunity.

It is within this context that The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka will host a timely and potentially consequential forum on April 2 at the Wimalasurendra Auditorium, focusing on a “Pragmatic Approach to Electricity Sector Reforms in Sri Lanka and the Way Forward.”

This is not just another technical discussion. It is, in many respects, a reality check.

The keynote address by Eng. Pubudu Niroshan—who stood at the centre of recent reform efforts as Director General of the Power Sector Reforms Secretariat—comes at a moment when the gap between policy ambition and execution has become impossible to ignore.

For over three decades, Sri Lanka has spoken the language of reform. Yet, time and again, progress has been derailed by institutional resistance, political hesitation, and an entrenched reluctance to dismantle inefficient structures.

The result is a sector that continues to bleed financially while passing the burden onto consumers and the broader economy.

High electricity tariffs, supply vulnerabilities, and operational inefficiencies are no longer isolated technical issues—they are macroeconomic threats. Industries struggle to remain competitive, investors remain cautious, and households continue to bear rising costs. The over-reliance on imported fossil fuels has only deepened this vulnerability, exposing the country to global price shocks and geopolitical disruptions.

The economic crisis of 2022 briefly forced a shift in thinking. Under severe fiscal pressure, reform was no longer optional. The passage of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024 was seen as a breakthrough—an acknowledgment that structural change could no longer be postponed.

But legislation alone does not transform systems.

What has followed is a more grounded, outcome-driven approach—one that attempts to move beyond policy rhetoric. Within a relatively short span, the first phase of restructuring has been pushed through, including the repeal of the decades-old CEB Act, No. 17 of 1969, and the unbundling of the monolithic utility into six state-owned entities.

This is, by any measure, a significant structural shift.

Yet, the real test lies ahead.

Unbundling without genuine market discipline risks becoming another cosmetic exercise.

The promise of a competitive National Electricity Market—long discussed but never realized—will depend heavily on regulatory strength, transparency, and political consistency. Without these, the same inefficiencies could simply be replicated across multiple entities.

Moreover, reform cannot succeed in isolation.

Sri Lanka’s energy transition must be anchored in a broader economic strategy—one that aligns power sector reforms with industrial growth, environmental sustainability, and investment policy.

The proposed “Energy Transition Act,” now under consideration, will be a critical piece of this puzzle. If executed with clarity and discipline, it could provide the legal backbone for a coherent and forward-looking energy framework.

The reference to an Integrated Economic Development Framework (IEDF) in the 2026 Budget underscores this necessity. Energy is not a standalone sector—it is the foundation upon which economic recovery will either stand or falter.

What makes this moment different is the absence of alternatives.

Sri Lanka can no longer afford half-measures or delayed decisions. The cost of inaction is too high, and the margin for error too narrow. Reform, in this sense, is no longer a policy preference—it is an economic imperative.

The upcoming forum at The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka is therefore more than a professEng. Pubudu Niroshanional gathering. It is a critical platform where technical expertise must confront political reality, and where long-standing assumptions must be challenged.

For years, Sri Lanka’s electricity sector has been caught in a cycle of discussion without delivery. The shift toward a pragmatic approach signals an understanding that outcomes—not intentions—will define success.

The question now is whether that realization will finally translate into sustained, irreversible change.

Because this time, failure is not just an option—it is a risk the country simply cannot afford.

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Business

Needs of populace hit by Cyclone Ditwah seen as waiting to be addressed

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Lionel Bopage: ‘Recovery painfully slow.’

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

The government is yet to address fully the needs of the Cyclone Ditwah affected populace though one year has elapsed. The devastation cost the country more than US $ 4.1 billion, an Australia-based Chartered Engineer of Sri Lankan origin said.

‘Cyclone Ditwah affected more than 2.2 million people in 25 districts, which is considered to be one tenth of the population. However, only 39 percent of the allocated funds have been spent to date, the speaker, a one-time General Secretary of the JVP, now living in Australia Lionel Bopage said.

He made these comments at a Rotary Club Colombo South monthly meeting held at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo recently.

Bopage quoted from a Loughborough University research report published in February to the effect that Sri Lanka has under invested in prevention but over invested in recovery.

Bopage added: ‘The largest single economic category affected were not buildings but the agriculture sector which provides livelihoods for the majority of affected persons. Therefore agricultural livelihoods have been hit most.

‘More than 58,000 hectares of paddy lands were flooded in the Eastern districts alone, while 46 reservoirs reached critical spill level or failed outright following the disaster.

‘A rapid education sector assessment found that 1,682 schools were affected and more than 555,000 children were unable to attend schools. Further, 622 water supply schemes had been left non-functional and apart from that 11300 homes were damaged or destroyed. But reconstruction is happening at a very slow pace.

‘Tens of thousands of households in the hill country and in the East are still living in damaged properties and on unstable slopes drawing water from schemes that have not been restored.

‘ A Post Disaster Needs Assessment put the cost of resilience at US$ 3.4 billion but restoration work is happening at a slow pace even with foreign donor assistance.’

Business

WB forecast buoys bourse but weak investor participation slows momentum

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

The CSE yesterday kicked off on a positive note due to a World Bank forecast that Sri Lanka could achieve 4.4 percent economic growth this year but later lost momentum due to weak investor participation.

Amid those developments both indices moved upwards. The All Share Price Index went up by 132 points while S and P SL20 rose by 21.02 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 1.97 billion with three crossings. Those crossings were; Lanka IOC 2.7 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 470 million; its shares traded at Rs 127, CCS 2.7 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 315 million; its shares sold at Rs 118 and JKH five million shares crossed for Rs 91.5 million; its shares traded at Rs 18.30.

In the retail market companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Commercial Credit and Finance Rs 126 million (1.3 million shares traded), Lanka IOC Rs 98 million (775,000 shares traded), Asiri Surgical Hospitals Rs 77 million (7.6 million shares traded), Commercial Bank Rs 51.3 million (307,000 shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs 46 million (325,000 shares traded), HNB Rs 37 million (98000 shares traded) and Tokyo Cement Rs 31 million (393,000 shares traded). During the day 50 million share volumes changed hands in 14547 transactions.

It is said that the petroleum sector performed well, especially Lanka IOC, while in the banking sector counters, especially Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank performed well. In the manufacturing sector, JKH impressed.

TAL Lanka Hotels announced that it has scheduled an Extraordinary General Meeting on October 29 to obtain shareholder approval for a proposed Rs 1.87 billion rights issue. The proceeds will be utilized for the repayment of bank borrowings, part refurbishment of the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo, settlement of vendor liabilities, and general corporate requirements.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 330.95/331.05 to the US dollar in the spot market, weaker from Rs 330.85/95 the previous day, while bond yields were quoted broadly steady, dealers said.

Business

Huawei continues to showcase practical AI applications at Sri Lanka AI Week 2026

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka AI Week 2026 continued into its second day bringing together government, industry, academia and technology partners to explore practical applications of artificial intelligence. As the AI Technology Partner for the second consecutive year, Huawei showcased 18 use cases spanning government, education, finance, industry, green energy and everyday life, demonstrating how AI can be applied to real-world needs.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited the Huawei exhibition together with officials from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, experiencing the Smart Classroom, AI in Education and MindGraph by Beijing Normal University demonstrations. The Smart Classroom demostration highlighted how connected technologies can bring teachers and students in different locations into a shared learning environment, while the AI in Education showcase demonstrated how AI can support teachers, enhance learning and enable more personalised education. The Prime Minister praised the efforts of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Huawei and their partners to demonstrate practical applications of AI in education, noting the role of technology in supporting teachers, expanding learning opportunities, and advancing a more inclusive, equitable and future-ready education system.

Later in the day, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy Waruna Sri Dhanapala, and Chinese Ambassador Wei Huaxiang visited the Huawei exhibition and explored the AI Hands-On Classroom AI Empowering Industry, AI in Education and Smart Classroom demonstrations. Deputy Minister Weeraratne praised Huawei’s practical approach to showcasing AI applications, noting their relevance to Sri Lanka’s digital transformation across education, industry and skills development. The engagement also extended across the wider AI ecosystem, with industry professionals, technology partners, academics and other visitors engaging with the demonstrations and expressing appreciation for Huawei’s practical approach to applying AI across different areas of society and the economy.

Daniel Wu, CEO of Huawei Sri Lanka, said that Huawei will continue bringing global experience, technology and ecosystem resources to Sri Lanka, while working side by side with local partners to build local capabilities, develop local talent and create real value for the country. “I believe that by working together, we can make AI not only more intelligent, but also more local, more inclusive, and more meaningful for everyone,” he said.