<ul><li>Renewables still supply 46% of daily power generation</li><li>1,083 MW of peak demand met by renewables&nbsp;</li></ul> Re-registration of Renewable Energy (RE) companies with the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) has fallen by 25–30% by the end of last month, according to sources familiar with the authority.Sri Lanka currently has around 800 RE companies registered with the SLSEA.However, industry sources warned that the sharp drop in re-registrations reflected mounting operational and policy-related challenges facing the sector rather than a routine fluctuation.When contacted by The Sunday Morning, SLSEA Chairman Prof. Wijendra J. Bandara confirmed the decline in re-registrations but downplayed its significance, stating that the reduction did not materially affect the overall RE industry when viewed against the total number of registered companies.However, Prof. Bandara acknowledged that grid saturation remained a key obstacle, with many parts of the national grid already operating at maximum capacity.The SLSEA Chairman said several renewable energy project applications had been rejected due to a lack of available transformer capacity, effectively limiting new connections.He also admitted that the ongoing Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) reform process had contributed to delays and uncertainty in the sector. “These issues have affected the process to some extent. We expect the situation to improve once the reforms are concluded,” Prof. Bandara added.Despite these challenges, RE continues to account for a significant share of Sri Lanka’s power generation. According to CEB data, on Friday (6), renewable sources generated 23.75 GWh, representing 46.19% of the country’s total net electricity generation of 51.41 GWh.Hydropower remained the dominant renewable source, contributing 14 GWh, while solar power from small power producers accounted for 6.21 GWh. Wind energy from both CEB-owned and private sector plants generated a combined 1.78 GWh, with biomass and mini-hydro contributing 0.26 GWh and 1.5 GWh, respectively.At peak demand, renewables supplied 1,083.8 MW or 40.9% of the total peak requirement of 2,649 MW, underscoring the sector’s growing role in the national energy mix even as new additions face constraints.The decline in re-registrations comes amid a broader restructuring of renewable energy pricing. In 2025, the Government revised the renewable energy tariff framework, reducing purchase prices for larger solar installations in a bid to pass lower costs on to consumers.Under the Cabinet-approved tariff revisions on 16 June 2025, rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems receive tiered payments, with installations of up to 5 kW earning about Rs. 20.90 per kWh, falling progressively to around Rs. 14.46 per kWh for systems exceeding 1 MW. Ground-mounted solar projects of up to 10 MW are priced at approximately Rs. 17.62 per kWh, while floating solar projects receive higher rates due to higher development costs.In late 2025, the CEB also introduced a time-based tariff for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) linked to solar PV, offering Rs. 45.80 per kWh for electricity exported during the night peak from 6.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. – a move aimed at easing evening peak demand but which has drawn mixed reactions from developers.Meanwhile, when contacted, Ministry of Energy Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala acknowledged that sections of the renewable energy industry were unhappy with the revised tariffs but insisted that the Government had not slowed RE expansion.“Renewable energy additions have not been curtailed. Solar power is now cheaper than petroleum-based generation, and our priority is to expand solar and wind capacity while ensuring fair prices for consumers,” Prof. Hemapala said.He added that resistance from some developers was inevitable as tariffs declined.“Some companies that are unhappy with the new lower rates will raise concerns. But the objective is to ensure that the benefits of cheaper renewable energy are passed on to the public,” he said.&nbsp;

Renewable energy: Re-registrations drop by 30%

<ul><li>Backlog tied to new regulatory approach</li></ul> The Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) yesterday (7) warned that the country is facing a looming shortage of essential medicines by March and April due to a significant backlog in licence renewals at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).The industry body claimed that over 750 import licence renewals were currently pending – a delay that prevents companies from placing necessary orders with international suppliers.SLCPI President Shantha Bandara explained that the situation had become critical due to the lead times required in the global supply chain.He noted that the pharmaceutical industry generally required 90–120 days to replenish stocks and the current administrative bottleneck was effectively halting this process.“If the authority continues to allow hundreds of licence renewals to remain pending, we will be unable to place orders in a timely manner, which means we might run out of stock for chronic care items, acute pain relief medication, and other essential treatments,” he added.The backlog is reportedly tied to a new regulatory approach where the NMRA has integrated price reviews into the annual licence renewal cycle.Bandara noted that this shift, following a gazette notification on 21 July 2025, had fundamentally slowed down the approval process, given that the NMRA currently lacked the bandwidth to process these applications.In response to these industry concerns, NMRA Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama maintained that the authority was following the law and regulations, ensuring that price and quality conditions were met before any renewals were granted.“We will proceed with the renewal of those licences prior to their expiry provided that the importers fulfil all necessary regulatory conditions, including adherence to established pricing, and in such instances, there is no issue with the renewal process.”The NMRA is also strictly enforcing the statutory requirements found within the NMRA Act No.5 of 2015.Dr. Wijewickrama stressed that the law provided for the automatic cancellation of licences if they were not renewed within a specific timeframe following their expiration.When asked about the enforcement of Clause 101, Sub-Section 2 of the act, Dr. Wijewickrama stated: “This is a requirement stipulated in the act, and as it is the law of the land, we are strictly adhering to those statutory provisions.”The industry, however, expressed concerns regarding the regulatory body’s reliance on manual systems that could not keep pace with the demand.Bandara pointed out that without a more robust and rapid system to clear the current backlog, the availability of life-saving medications for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease would be compromised.He stated: “The Minister may issue instructions, but the authority must be capable of executing them. We are currently calling for a rapid project or a systemic change to clear this backlog and allow us to continue the vital work of supplying Sri Lanka with pharmaceuticals.”Regarding retail pharmacy licences, the authority has provided a deadline of 28 February for renewals, provided that the establishments employ qualified professionals.Dr. Wijewickrama confirmed that the presence of a certified pharmacist remained a mandatory requirement for any pharmacy to operate legally.The SLCPI has urged the Ministry of Health and the NMRA to implement an emergency project to clear the pending applications, ensuring that patient rights to access medication are not infringed upon by administrative delays.

Licence renewal: Delays to impact essential meds?

<ul><li>New app-based regulatory system on the way</li></ul>The National Transport Commission (NTC) plans to make it mandatory for all three-wheelers to operate under an app-based system.The move is aimed at standardising services across the island, ensuring transparent fares, improving passenger safety, and strengthening monitoring and accountability within the three-wheeler transport industry.As of February, the primary three-wheeler hailing brands operating in Sri Lanka are PickMe, Uber, and HelaGo. The urgent need for such regulation was compelled by a series of protests and confrontations initiated by traditional three-wheeler groups, which began in the tourist hub of Ella and expanded across several regions.“Our future roadmap involves a transition where all three-wheeler operations must be managed through digital applications. With the rise in competition, many private companies are already offering these platforms. Since three-wheelers now fall under the taxi category, they must operate within the app-based system and strictly abide by the rules and standards established by the NTC,” NTC Director General Commander (Retd) Dr. Nilan Miranda said.The initiative follows the enactment of the NTC (Amendment) Act No.8 of 2025, which granted the commission the legal authority to regulate ‘paratransport’ services, including three-wheelers, school vans, and office transport. Previously, the NTC’s powers under the 1991 act were limited primarily to the regulation of omnibuses.Dr. Miranda confirmed that the commission was currently in the final stages of publishing four new regulations that would institutionalise these changes.“Historically, three-wheelers have occupied an unregulated space, as no specific authority held the mandate to oversee them until the recent legislative amendments. Under our new authority, we intend to bring this sector under formal regulation. This includes the promulgation of standardised fare structures and the enforcement of specific vehicle conditions and technical specifications,” he noted.A key challenge remains the integration of traditional, independent operators into this digital ecosystem. While private ride-hailing applications currently dominate urban areas like Colombo, the NTC is coordinating with the Ministry of Digital Economy to explore broader digitalisation goals, which could include a State-supported framework or a unified digital gateway for all operators.“Matters concerning national digital policy fall under the purview of the Ministry of Digital Economy. While I cannot confirm the specific timelines at this stage, digital integration remains a priority for the future of the sector,” Dr. Miranda said.To facilitate this transition, the NTC has already launched a national data collection initiative. This registration drive will serve as the foundation for issuing operational stickers and enforcing new standards, effectively bringing over one million three-wheelers into a formal, monitored transport network.&nbsp;

Govt. moots mandatory tuk-tuk regulation

<ul><li>Third shipment clears quality checks</li><li>Reports pending for fourth and fifth&nbsp;</li></ul>The long-term coal supply agreement awarded to Trident Chemphar Ltd. will remain in force as the third shipment of coal has reportedly met the required quality specifications of the Lanka Coal Company (LCC), it is learnt.Ministry of Energy Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala told The Sunday Morning that based on preliminary findings shared by the LCC, there was no immediate requirement to proceed with the Cabinet-approved emergency coal procurement.He claimed that the official quality report of the third shipment was expected to be released either yesterday (7) or today.“If the third shipment gets clearance, the fourth and fifth shipments are also expected to be within the required quality levels,” Prof. Hemapala said, noting that under such circumstances, the LCC was not in a position to cancel the agreement with the supplier at this stage.Meanwhile, unloading of the sixth shipment is currently underway, it is learnt.Last week, Cabinet approval was granted to procure 300,000 MT of coal through emergency procurement in the event the long-term tender had to be halted due to confirmed quality failures.While the approval remains valid, Prof. Hemapala reiterated that the ministry would only move ahead with emergency purchasing if a clear necessity arose.The long-term tender was awarded to Trident Chemphar to supply 1.5 million MT (±10%) of coal for the period from December 2025 to April 2026. According to the LCC, six shipments had been unloaded by the end of last week, although quality reports have only been received for the first two consignments.Based on inspection reports, the first shipment recorded a dry basis ash content of 22.42% with a Gross Calorific Value (GCV) of 6,032 kcal/kg, while the second shipment showed an ash content of 16.67% and a GCV of 6,535 kcal/kg. Tender specifications stipulate that coal should be rejected if the GCV falls below 5,900 kcal/kg, ash content exceeds 16%, or total moisture is above 16%.According to the termination clauses of the agreement, the contract can be cancelled if two separate shipments fall outside permitted quality tolerance limits. Additionally, the contract provides for termination in cases of frequent or significant discrepancies between load port and jetty test results.&nbsp;

Controversial coal tender to remain

Nearly 500 mining exploration licences have been issued so far for Sri Lanka’s heavy mineral sector, but only a small number have moved into active operations, according to Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) Chairman Saman Jayasinghe.The GSMB last week announced that it had officially transitioned towards a new National Mineral Policy, resulting in a temporary pause in the assessment of new industrial mining licences.The GSMB Chairman confirmed that the move was designed to curb speculative behaviour in the mining sector and ensure that licences were granted to entities capable of genuine industrial operation.According to Jayasinghe, the previous system, which operated on a first-come, first-served basis, is being replaced by a more stringent evaluation framework.The Chairman noted that while a large volume of exploration licences had been issued in the past, the conversion rate to actual mining remained remarkably low.He explained that the suspension was a necessary intervention to stop the practice of obtaining licences solely for financial speculation on the stock market rather than for industrial production.“Up to this point, many have been obtaining these licences simply to market them on the stock exchange. This is precisely why the Government decided to temporarily hold the process until we can establish a more concrete and productive solution,” Jayasinghe said.Under the new policy, the GSMB will utilise a competitive selection process. This involves a shift towards public transparency where the Government identifies locations and invites qualified parties to apply through a formal evaluation of expressions of interest.When asked about the current backlog of applications during this transition period, the Chairman indicated that the queue was manageable and that no new licences had been granted recently.“I cannot state the exact number of pending applications right now, but I believe it is fewer than 50. We have not issued any new licences during this year or the previous year,” Jayasinghe said.The GSMB Chairman also emphasised that an exploration licence did not guarantee a mining licence and that the latter was only granted upon the submission of comprehensive mineral data that met the bureau’s technical standards.“A mining licence is only granted once the exploration phase is complete. To date, however, only a few licences have successfully moved from exploration to the mining stage,” Jayasinghe said.

Industrial mining: Few mines operational despite 500 licences

<ul><li>High-level committee appointed; preliminary report in 2 weeks</li></ul> The Government has launched a comprehensive investigation and safety overhaul of urban housing schemes following the death of a seven-year-old child at a high-rise housing complex in Modara earlier this week, allocating Rs. 300 million for immediate rectification and a further Rs. 93 million for critical structural repairs.Speaking on the incident, Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara said that the tragedy had exposed long-standing failures in the design, construction, and management of several housing projects, warning that existing living conditions could not be allowed to persist.&nbsp;A high-level investigation committee has been appointed to examine the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and identify construction and maintenance failures, with a preliminary report expected within one-and-a-half weeks.Gunasekara said three Senior Directors of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) had been assigned to oversee all 24 UDA housing schemes and instructed to spend eight days on site assessing risks and identifying high-risk areas requiring urgent intervention.&nbsp;He said immediate attention would be given to lift safety, fire protection systems, and visible structural defects, noting that several buildings, including some completed as recently as 2019, were already showing signs of serious deterioration.&nbsp;Describing the existing housing units as “cages,” the Deputy Minister said the State had a responsibility to ensure that these spaces did not remain “hell” for residents.Gunasekara and a team of officials visited the housing complex following the incident and held discussions with residents.The child had sustained critical injuries after a section of cement plaster from the outer wall of an apartment complex had fallen on his head while he was playing near the building in Madampitiya, Modara.&nbsp;The child had been admitted to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo, where he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday (5). The deceased was identified as a resident of Randiya Uyana, Modara, Colombo 15.The Government confirmed that Rs. 1 million in compensation had been paid to the child’s mother, along with Rs. 125,000 to cover funeral expenses, with additional welfare assistance expected through the UDA’s welfare society.UDA Director General Ruchira Withana told The Sunday Morning that the authority had already commenced technical investigations into possible construction failures and structural damage using specialised equipment and expert teams. Withana said that the UDA’s primary focus was on preventing a recurrence of such incidents.He added that the Rs. 300 million allocation would be used to address long-neglected safety and maintenance issues across housing schemes, while the additional Rs. 93 million would be directed towards repairing structural cracks and failures.&nbsp;As part of immediate measures, the UDA has begun modifying physical layouts to improve security by restricting unnecessary access routes and addressing areas known for illegal activities. Withana said that new downpipe systems had already been installed following reports that infrastructure was being damaged to conceal illicit materials from the Police.Acknowledging that current housing units, which average about 450 square feet, are inadequate for a decent quality of life, Withana said future projects would target a minimum size of 560 square feet. He noted that forcing families to sleep, cook, and live within a single confined space created serious social strain that the authority could no longer ignore.Looking ahead, the UDA plans to adopt a community-oriented urban housing model inspired by Malaysia, with a stronger emphasis on shared spaces, recreation, and dignity in living. The aim, Withana said, was to uplift these complexes to a “condo-level” environment where residents felt a sense of ownership and pride, while also addressing the lack of safe recreational options for young people, which is contributing to drug vulnerability.Under the revived Urban Regeneration Project, around 15,000 housing units have been constructed in Colombo to provide permanent housing for low-income families.In November 2025, the Cabinet approved plans to construct a further 730 housing units in Colombo at an estimated cost of Rs. 7.8 billion, targeting low-income earners.The projects, to be located on Green Path and Torrington Avenue, will revive previously halted developments and be implemented under the reactivated Urban Regeneration Project. Budgetary provisions for the projects have been allocated for the period from 2026 to 2028.&nbsp;

Safety overhaul for urban housing

Delays in submitting the National Electricity Policy to the Cabinet by the committee appointed on the recommendation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody have resulted in a postponement in declaring the formal ‘appointed date’ for the legal dissolution of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and its restructuring into new successor entities, sources close to the process have informed The Sunday Morning.The sources claimed that the previously scheduled ‘appointed date’ of 14 February would not be feasible under the prevailing circumstances, as the policy was yet to be submitted to and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.In December last year, the draft National Electricity Policy, formulated in accordance with the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No.14 of 2025, was formally handed over to Minister Jayakody by the committee appointed for that purpose. The policy is a key component of a broader National Energy Policy framework being developed to address both current and future requirements of Sri Lanka’s energy sector.The draft was prepared by a Cabinet-appointed expert committee tasked with formulating the National Electricity Policy following extensive deliberations. The committee comprises Prof. Mohan Munasinghe, Prof. Arulampalam Atputharajah, Prof. Wijendra Bandara, Dr. M.M. Gunatilake, Eng. W.J.L. Shavindaranth Fernando, and President’s Counsel Milinda Gunathilaka.The draft National Electricity Policy was expected to undergo a public consultation process to obtain stakeholder feedback prior to being finalised and adopted as official Government policy. However, responding to questions posed by The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Energy Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala said that the appointed date for restructuring would be declared only after the policy was submitted to the Cabinet and formally approved.Meanwhile, nearly 2,200 employees of the CEB who applied for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) have appealed for urgent intervention from religious leaders and political authorities, citing severe uncertainty arising from delays in implementing power sector reforms.The employees have written to the Mahanayake Theras of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters, the Advisory Executive Council of the Sangha, and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging immediate action to gazette the ‘appointed date’ required to operationalise restructuring under the Electricity Act.The applicants have stated that they opted for voluntary retirement based on official Government assurances, but remain unable to formally exit service or pursue future plans due to the absence of the gazette notification. They have warned that the prolonged delay has triggered what they describe as a humanitarian crisis, with employees facing the loss of overseas job opportunities, family separations, stalled business ventures, financial difficulties, and stress-related health concerns.In their appeals, the employees call for the immediate declaration of the ‘appointed date’ through a gazette notification and, as an interim measure, the issuance of a CEB circular granting approved no-pay leave to VRS applicants until restructuring is finalised. The VRS was gazetted on 26 August 2025 following Cabinet approval, with around 2,200 employees formally notifying the CEB of their decision to retire by 27 October 2025.The VRS process has also come under criticism by some observers and Opposition politicians, with claims made that the CEB is planning to make the customers shoulder the burden of the VRS payments through revised electricity tariffs.

CEB restructuring: Delay in policy stalls CEB dissolution date

<ul><li>Test kits, diagnostic capacity in place</li></ul> Sri Lanka has the necessary test kits and adequate diagnostic capacity in place to respond immediately if a suspected Nipah virus case is identified, Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni told The Sunday Morning yesterday (7), expressing his confidence that the national health systems were prepared to face the threat.Dr. Wijemuni stressed that despite recent public concern, Sri Lanka faced an extremely low risk of exposure to the Nipah virus and did not require emergency-level preventive measures or heightened vigilance.&nbsp;He explained that the virus originated from bats and could be transmitted only in two ways – either directly from infected bats or through human-to-human transmission – both of which posed minimal risk to Sri Lanka under current conditions.He said that fruit bats, the primary carriers of the virus, did not migrate between India and Sri Lanka, making animal-to-human transmission highly unlikely. “The possibility of Nipah virus transmission in Sri Lanka through bats is extremely low, almost non-existent,” he said.Addressing the possibility of human-to-human transmission, Dr. Wijemuni said such cases were rare and unlikely to result in cross-border spread. He explained that transmission through saliva occurred only when the infection had progressed to encephalitis, a severe inflammation of the brain. “At that stage, patients experience serious symptoms such as unconsciousness and altered mental states, making international travel virtually impossible,” he said.Although limited cases of human-to-human transmission have been documented globally, Dr. Wijemuni pointed out that direct transmission from bats remained statistically more common, though still negligible in the Sri Lankan context.He further emphasised that the Nipah virus had never been classified as a global epidemic and urged the public not to panic. “There is no need for containment measures or extreme responses,” he said.Dr. Wijemuni also highlighted Sri Lanka’s ongoing viral surveillance efforts, noting that monthly studies were conducted at around 20 locations across the country to monitor circulating viruses and ensure early detection of emerging threats. “To date, the Nipah virus has not been detected in Sri Lanka,” he confirmed.Given these factors, he stressed that there was no justification for imposing strict quarantine measures or enhanced airport screening, as severe cases would be identified through routine medical assessments and were unlikely to involve international travel.

Lanka ‘prepared’ for Nipah virus

<ul><li>New permit transfer framework seeks to increase accountability</li></ul>The National Transport Commission (NTC) has officially launched a legal framework for the transfer of private bus route permits, effectively ending a 30-year period where such transactions were handled through informal and often illegal external agreements.The initiative, which is set to commence operation tomorrow (9), follows the enactment of the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Act No.8 of 2025 and the subsequent publication of Extraordinary Gazette No.2471/68.NTC Director General Commander (Retd) Dr. Nilan Miranda explained that the original legislation established in 1991 provided no legal mechanism for a permit holder to transfer their rights to another individual.“The previous act contained no provisions for bus owners to legally transfer their permits. As a result, many resorted to unauthorised methods, entering into private agreements outside of the NTC’s jurisdiction. These transactions were beyond our oversight and led to numerous illegal practices,” Dr. Miranda said.The new regulations include a vetting process to ensure the financial and legal standing of both parties involved in a transfer. Prospective transferees are now required to demonstrate financial competence by maintaining a minimum balance of Rs. 2 million over a six-month period. Additionally, the NTC has introduced an online system where all necessary documentation must be submitted for review.Addressing concerns regarding road safety and the accountability of bus owners during accidents, Dr. Miranda clarified that the commission was intensifying its investigative procedures. He noted that while drivers were often the primary focus of legal action following a mishap, the NTC held owners strictly accountable under the conditions of their permits.Dr. Miranda highlighted a recent enforcement action as a precedent for this policy: “As an example, following the incident where a Pulmoddai bus was driven into a flooded area last year during the Cyclone Ditwah, we cancelled the NTC registrations of both the driver and the conductor. We also imposed a one-month suspension on the bus owner as a penalty. When these cases are taken to court, we ensure that all three parties, which include the driver, the conductor, and the owner, are all held accountable and produced before the legal system.”The NTC website has been updated with the relevant forms and instructions to facilitate the new legal process.&nbsp;

Renewable energy: Re-registrations drop by 30%

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Govt. moots mandatory tuk-tuk ...

Controversial coal tender to remain

Controversial coal tender to r ...

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Industrial mining: Few mines o ...

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Safety overhaul for urban hous ...

CEB restructuring: Delay in policy stalls CEB dissolution date

CEB restructuring: Delay in po ...

Lanka ‘prepared’ for Nipah virus

Lanka ‘prepared’ for Nipah vir ...

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Pvt. bus route permit transfer ...

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