Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ The Sri Lankan government, under the leadership of Power & Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara, has now made regional energy integration and grid connectivity between Sri Lanka and India a top priority. The initiative is set to be implemented by 2030. Discussions on regional energy integration have been ongoing for over two decades, and the government is committed to realizing the India-Sri Lanka grid connection within the specified timeframe. Further, Sri Lanka can draw inspiration from the tripartite agreement between India, Nepal, and Bangladesh as a model for shaping its own role in establishing agreements with other neighboring countries in the region.
To facilitate this endeavor, the World Bank has been supporting the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) in understanding the technical requirements and business models associated with the project. After a meeting between Minister Wijesekara, World Bank Director of Regional Integration Cecile Fruman, and Country Manager Chiyo Kanda, it was affirmed that the World Bank’s support aligns with India’s efforts to enhance energy connectivity with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. This includes the establishment of electricity transmission networks and petroleum pipelines. If Nepal successfully exports electricity to Bangladesh, it will mark its first power export beyond India.
Sri Lanka aims to follow suit by implementing its proposed renewable energy schemes over the next decade, with the expectation of providing affordable power to all developing countries in the region to revitalize their economies. As part of this plan, the construction of an overhead power grid link with Sri Lanka is being considered following the challenges encountered in building an underwater transmission line. Similar to Nepal, Sri Lanka’s state-run power companies have been encouraged to explore projects in the country. Further, President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India holds significance in various areas, ranging from development initiatives to strengthening strategic partnerships with Sri Lanka’s immediate neighbor.
Moreover, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, the three nations on the Indian Subcontinent, have already finalized an agreement for a tripartite power trade agreement. This agreement aims to enable these nations to share energy resources and meet their growing energy demands. By reducing the region’s reliance on imported power sources, it will also allow countries in the region to export energy to their neighboring nations, fostering greater energy self-sufficiency and cooperation.
