The Hon. Kumara Jayakody - Minister of Energy

¶ 01 Question No. 1718/2025 – Solar Power Grid Connections: Jaffna District

¶ 02 (a) (i) A total of 7,259 applications have been received in the Jaffna District for rooftop solar grid connections since 2020.

¶ 03 (ii) Of these: - Approved applications: 4,452 - Connections provided: 4,448 - Pending connections to be provided: 04

¶ 04 (iii) Of the 04 pending: - 03 are delayed due to incomplete construction. - 01 is delayed due to public protests and decisions of District Coordination Committees. As at 2025.12.08, there are no applications in a merely “expected” status for grid connection.

¶ 05 Due to the Chunnakam grid substation having exceeded the maximum renewable integration capacity, approvals for new rooftop solar in the Jaffna District have been suspended since 2024.08.12. Therefore, there are no applications awaiting “expected” connection status.

¶ 06 A note regarding rooftop solar connections in the Jaffna District and the intervention of the District Coordination Committee is annexed as Annex 01 for your information.

¶ 07 (b) (i) With respect to Northern Province CEB activities, there are no current allegations concerning selected individuals. Allegations were raised against CEB regarding rooftop solar applications and approvals; proper inquiries were conducted and responses provided, including to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) as appropriate.

¶ 08 (ii) Disciplinary action against any CEB staff facing allegations is taken according to due procedure. If an allegation of illegal activity arises against a CEB employee, the CEB disciplinary authority conducts a fair and transparent inquiry, issues a charge sheet, and holds a formal disciplinary inquiry through a disciplinary board, imposing penalties if warranted.

¶ 09 The CEB General Manager/Chairman has deployed the CEB Special Investigation Unit for specific inquiries, and matters are referred to the Internal Audit Branch as required.

¶ 10 Note: Rooftop solar applications and approvals follow an established CEB procedure. From application and payment onwards, approvals are issued automatically by the system in the generated order. This same procedure is operational in the Northern Province, making any irregularities easily detectable upon complaint.

¶ 11 A customer complaints handling procedure exists under the PUCSL-approved “Supply Services Code.” Any consumer may lodge a complaint through this mechanism.

¶ 12 Note: Item 9 of the Supply Services Code on “Customer Complaints Procedure” is annexed as Annex 02.

¶ 13 Accordingly, any supply-related complaint can be made to the relevant Area Engineer’s Office. If not resolved, or if the customer is dissatisfied with the Area Engineer’s resolution, it can be escalated to the Provincial Deputy General Manager. If unresolved, it will be referred to the PUCSL in line with the complaints resolution procedure set out in Gazette Extraordinary No. 1951/1 of 2016.01.25.

¶ 14 (c) (i) The Long-Term Generation Plan (2025–2044) is based on the target of 70 per cent renewable energy by 2030. As of June 2025, against the plan target of 1,848 MW for that year, 2,695 MW of renewable capacity had been added to the national grid, surpassing the annual target.

¶ 15 Note: Based on contracted renewable projects, expected cumulative capacity additions are as follows (MW): - Planned cumulative renewables per LTGEP (2025–2044): - 2026: 2,078 | 2027: 2,563 | 2028: 3,253 | 2029: 3,943 - Cumulative capacity of already contracted projects (assuming 150 MW per year from rooftop solar): - 2026: 3,089.5 | 2027: 3,822.5 | 2028: 4,332.5 | 2029: 4,634.5

¶ 16 Thus, if contracted projects proceed as scheduled, the 2030 renewable target can be exceeded.

¶ 17 (ii) Two solar power plants have been contracted on Mannar Island.

¶ 18 (iii) There is currently no formal work programme to strengthen coordination among the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and local authorities specifically to facilitate rooftop solar grid connections.

¶ 19 (d) Not applicable.

¶ 20 Annexes 01 and 02 tabled.