The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, under Head 119, Rs. 21.14 billion is allocated for recurrent expenditure and Rs. 20.07 billion for capital expenditure. Compared to 2024, recurrent spending is reduced by 43%. Under capital, seven items are provided:

¶ 02 1) National transmission and distribution network and efficiency improvement project, implemented in four packages: - Package 1: Gampaha, Colombo and Kurunegala transmission lines; estimate Rs. 14,623 million; JICA + GoSL; completion by December 2025. - Package 2: Gampaha, Colombo, Kandy and Kegalle transmission lines; estimate Rs. 8,531 million; JICA + GoSL; completion by December 2025. - Package 3: Anuradhapura, Matale, Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya transmission lines; estimate Rs. 11,253 million; JICA + GoSL; completion by December 2026. - Package 4: Colombo urban cable-based distribution coverage; estimate Rs. 7,183 million; JICA + GoSL; completion by December 2026.

¶ 03 2) 10 MW waste-to-energy plant for Colombo’s solid waste: Rs. 1.2 billion. 3) Rooftop solar for government buildings, low-income housing, religious places, and water treatment plants: Rs. 290 million. 4) Hybrid renewable systems for Delft, Nainativu and Analaitivu islands in the North: Rs. 3 billion; construction has commenced. 5) Sri Lanka Energy Program – CEB capacity development: Rs. 290 million. 6) Capacity enhancement of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board: Rs. 160 million, to support policy decisions on nuclear power for sustainable, reliable, stable, and environmentally friendly generation, with IAEA and Ministry oversight. 7) Second 220 kV transmission line from Kerawalapitiya to Colombo Port: Rs. 7,000 million.

¶ 04 Beyond the Budget allocations, many projects are being advanced, largely via external financing. On generation: - Major hydro: Moragolla (30.5 MW) to be completed by December this year. Seethawaka mini-hydro: 2 units of 7 MW (14 MW total) by December 2026. As at end-2024, cumulative small hydro connected is 422.4 MW. - Solar (mostly investor-driven, not Budget-funded): Siyambalanduwa 100 MW (ground-mounted), completion 2026; Hambantota 150 MW + 200 MW (total 350 MW) planned; Sampur 120 MW (Phase I: 50 MW from April; Phase II: 70 MW; completion 2026); Valachchenai two plants of 100 MW each (200 MW total); Embilipitiya 60 MW; Trincomalee 100 MW; Puttalam 70 MW (with more land being identified); Kilinochchi 150 MW; Monaragala 108 MW; Kappalthure 100 MW. In total, 1,358 MW of solar projects are being lined up. - Floating solar: With Korean grant support, two 1 MW plants on Chandrika Wewa and Kiri Ibban Wewa at Embilipitiya are underway; Kurunegala Deduru Oya 100 MW and Hambantota Ridiyagama 50 MW are under feasibility and EIA; additional floating projects at Irakkamam (50 MW) and Kachcheri tank (34 MW) are envisaged—total 234 MW pipeline. - Wind: Mannar “Thambapavani” Phase II 50 MW by 2027; Phase I 100 MW is in operation. Two 50 MW projects at Mullikulam (Rs. 284 million preliminary allocations) have started preparatory work. In Kilinochchi (Weravil, Karachchi) 210 MW is under EIA. Additional projects: Alankulam 10 MW, Mullipuram 10 MW, Mannar 4×5 MW (20 MW), Madampe 2×5 MW (10 MW), Mantai West 300 MW—total wind pipeline about 710 MW.

¶ 05 We are also progressing towards a 300–400 MW nuclear plant under IAEA and Ministry supervision through the Atomic Energy Board and Regulatory Council.

¶ 06 Target for renewables in the next two years is 1,972 MW, and we aim to exceed it. A combined-cycle plant at Kerawalapitiya has been commissioned this year, and another 650 MW plant is under construction.

¶ 07 In petroleum, development plans are advancing largely through institutional funds and investors, not the Budget: Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm, Sapugaskanda refinery modernization, and calling proposals for a new refinery. I will address further points in my reply. Thank you.