A deliberate campaign is reportedly underway to undermine Sri Lanka’s renewable energy progress, with powerful interests seeking to preserve the dominance of thermal power, according to sources within the Ministry of Energy.
Officials say that factions benefiting from the current reliance on oil-based electricity are attempting to sabotage green energy projects, especially as the country shifts toward lower-cost, sustainable power alternatives.
In 2023, Sri Lanka spent Rs. 227 billion on thermal power. By 2024, that figure had dropped to Rs. 145 billion—a saving of Rs. 82 billion within a year, largely due to the transition to renewable energy sources.
However, this shift has provoked backlash. “A group with vested interests in thermal energy is working strategically to disrupt renewable energy efforts,” a senior ministry official said. “They aim to maintain thermal power demand by discrediting clean energy solutions.”
One key target of this opposition is the proposed 10 x 6 MW wind power project in Kalpitiya—a US$72 million private sector investment. Though the project has cleared regulatory approvals and is close to signing power purchase agreements, it now faces organized resistance allegedly fueled by misinformation.
“This sabotage is deliberate and deceptive,” said a senior CEB official. “Blocking this project would force the country to revert to costly oil-based power.”
The Kalpitiya wind farm is projected to deliver electricity at Rs. 29.80 per unit, far cheaper than the Rs. 75 per unit cost of thermal energy. Notably, the investor has also agreed to bear the full US$19 million cost of connecting the project to the national grid—minimizing the burden on public funds.
Experts warn that obstructing such initiatives will jeopardize Sri Lanka’s clean energy progress, raise electricity costs, and delay the country’s journey toward energy independence and sustainability.
With billions in savings and environmental benefits at stake, stakeholders are urging immediate action to protect renewable energy projects from sabotage driven by profit motives.
