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‘Policy flip-flops and grid woes jeopardise green transition’

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Sri Lanka’s renewable energy puzzle

Sri Lanka’s ambitious renewable energy transition stands at a precarious juncture, caught between political promises and policy paralysis. A sudden government decision to slash rooftop solar tariffs has triggered alarm among businesses and investors, exposing deeper systemic flaws in the nation’s energy strategy. The Island spoke with Dr. Lakmal Fernando (NCCSL Power & Energy Committee Chairman) and Dr. Vidhura Ralapanawe (Energy Analyst) to dissect the crisis.

Q: The NCCSL termed recent solar policy changes “disastrous.” What’s the fallout?

A. The SME sector—the backbone of Sri Lanka’s renewable drive—faces existential threats. Over 800 solar firms employing 50,000+ workers (with 200,000 dependents) risk collapse, jeopardizing maintenance for 100,000+ rooftop installations. Worse, abandoning rupee-denominated solar projects for dollar-based power agreements will escalate electricity costs as the rupee depreciates post-2027. This isn’t just energy policy – it’s economic suicide.

Q: Is the 70% renewable target by 2030 still viable?

A: The government’s rhetoric clashes with reality. While the NPP pledged accelerated green targets, Energy Ministry officials publicly disavowed the 70% goal, provoking ADB’s ire. Appointing anti-renewable voices like Dr. Siyambalapitiya at CEB accelerated the backslide, baselessly blaming solar for blackouts, arbitrarily curtailing renewables without compensation, and freezing net metering. Investor confidence has evaporated, risking $250mn in climate financing.

Q: Are grid limitations the true bottleneck?

A: Absolutely. Chronic underinvestment and incompetence plague grid planning. Fixable issues like transmission protection settings and retrofitting idle gas turbines remain ignored. Despite 2022 plans for 300MW battery storage, not a single tender has materialized. CEB’s belated 150MW storage proposal is a band-aid on a hemorrhage. This isn’t technical failure – it’s institutional sabotage.

Q: How do policy reversals impact forex?

A: Fossil fuel interests are the clear winners. Every delayed renewable project forces reliance on imported coal and diesel—like the new Rs. 72/kWh oil plant. This isn’t just environmentally regressive; it’s a fiscal time bomb.

Q: Is CEB guiding evidence-based policymaking?

A: CEB’s leadership is steeped in engineering but devoid of managerial expertise. It prioritises monopoly preservation over national interest. Their “solutions” (like uncompensated curtailments) betray ignorance of both engineering and economics. The Ministry, meanwhile, turns a blind eye to renewable sector collapse.

Q: Can Sri Lanka modernise without foreign expertise?

A: Current leadership can’t even diagnose problems, let alone solve them. We need international partners for grid planning and management – perhaps even imported executives to overhaul this dysfunctional monopoly.

Q: What are your top reform recommendations?

Mindset shift: Stop treating renewables as a threat.

Policy consistency: Align actions with climate commitments.

Grid modernization: Urgent system-strength assessments and storage deployment.

Execution rigor: Plans mean nothing without implementation.

Sector unbundling: Break CEB’s stranglehold to empower regulators.

Leadership overhaul: The crisis demands technocrats who understand energy and economics.

Q. What’s the Bottom Line:

A. Sri Lanka’s energy future hinges on choosing between vested interests and visionary reform. With each misstep, the window for a just transition narrows, and the spectre of perpetual power crises grows darker.

By Sanath Nanayakkare



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Export of scrap metal required for domestic industry to be banned

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to impose the necessary legal provisions to prevent the export of scrap metal in a manner detrimental to domestic industries.

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SriLankan Airlines records revenue increase with AI and ML-powered Revenue Management System

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SriLankan Airlines recorded a revenue increase following the implementation of its AI- and ML-powered Revenue Management System, a project that earned the Growth Catalyst Award at the Outperformer Customer Awards 2025 by PROS and the Silver Award in the AI and Data Science category at the National Project Management Excellence Awards 2025 by the Project Management Institute Sri Lanka Chapter.

SriLankan Airlines has recorded a revenue increase following the implementation of a next-generation, AI and Machine-Learning (ML) powered Origin and Destination (O&D) revenue management platform. The system enables dynamic pricing and smarter inventory optimisation, while delivering a superior passenger experience across all sales channels through real-time seat availability and predictive analytics.

Kshanaka Saparamadu, Head of Revenue Management at SriLankan Airlines, remarked, “Embracing the latest revenue management technology is a testament to our commitment to continuous innovation and digital transformation. With the introduction of PROS Revenue Management Advantage and Amadeus Revenue Availability and Active Valuation, we are not only refining our current processes but also positioning ourselves for long-term success in modern airline retailing, ensuring we stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.”

Chamara Perera, Group Head of IT at SriLankan Airlines, added, “This transition to a dynamic, integrated revenue management system reflects our strategic focus on remaining agile in an increasingly competitive and fast-evolving airline industry. As the aviation sector undergoes rapid digital transformation, SriLankan Airlines is enhancing its ability to respond swiftly to market fluctuations and meet the evolving demands of today’s travelers.”

Powered by PROS’ AI-driven Revenue Management Advantage (RMA) and Amadeus Revenue Availability and Active Valuation (RAAV), the platform leverages AI algorithms and ML models to improve alignment of capacity and demand, optimise premium seat allocation and respond swiftly to market shifts. These capabilities deliver unmatched agility and scalability, boost yield and position SriLankan Airlines at the forefront of digital transformation in aviation.

Industry benchmarks show that O&D-based revenue optimisation models typically deliver a 3%-5% increase in passenger revenue, underscoring the new revenue management system as a key driver, among other strategic factors, to the 13% growth recorded by SriLankan Airlines during the first three quarters of the 2025-2026 financial year.

This initiative has not only enhanced SriLankan Airlines’ agility, scalability, and competitiveness in a dynamic global aviation market, but also strengthened collaboration between pricing, demand and flight analyst teams, earning two awards in the process. It was recognised with the Growth Catalyst Award at the Outperformer Customer Awards 2025 in Las Vegas by PROS, as well as the Silver Award in the AI and Data Science category at the National Project Management Excellence Awards 2025 in Colombo by the Project Management Institute Sri Lanka Chapter.

As SriLankan Airlines continues its modernisation journey, the new integrated revenue management platform will significantly improve SriLankan Airlines’ global market position, its ability to attract and retain high value connecting passengers, and competitiveness in the global aviation landscape.(SriLankan Airlines)

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CCC delegation completes prestigious International Trade Facilitation Programme

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A delegation of 30 professionals from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently completed a specialised residential training programme on International Trade Facilitation at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in New Delhi.

Hosted by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, a premier institution established under India’s Ministry of Commerce and widely regarded as a leading centre of excellence in international trade education and research, the programme also included engagements with several of India’s most prominent trade and diplomacy institutions. These included the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the government authority responsible for shaping and implementing India’s foreign trade policy; the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, the country’s premier training institution for diplomats; the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), the apex body representing India’s exporting community; and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), one of India’s most influential industry associations. Together, these engagements offered participants valuable insights into how policy, diplomacy, and industry interact in a robust manner to facilitate trade and economic progress.

Over nine days, participants explored key aspects of global commerce, including the international trading system, trade negotiations, economic intelligence, trade finance, and emerging issues such as AI, cyber risk, and digital transformation.

The programme offered valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of international trade and the systems that support it, while highlighting ways in which chambers of commerce can further leverage their existing role in supporting businesses navigate global markets, contributing to policy discussions, and strengthen the broader trade ecosystem.

The programme was designed and overseen by Dr. Rohit Mehtani, Dean at IIFT and a widely respected expert in international trade diplomacy and negotiations, whose academic work and advisory experience have contributed to international trade discourse.

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