- CEB maintains project still under consideration
- Discussions between India, SL ongoing
- Project aims to enhance grid stability and power exchange
- MOU signed for 1,000 MW HVDC link between Madurai and Mannar
Uncertainty continues to surround the India-Sri Lanka electricity grid connectivity project amid mixed signals regarding its status in Sri Lanka’s power development plans.
Although reports suggested the Energy Ministry had requested removal of the project from the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan (LTGEP), Energy Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala denied any such removal and confirmed that discussions were ongoing.
Responding to questions, Prof. Hemapala stated: “There has been no removal of the project from the ministry’s plans. The discussions regarding the project’s implementation continue as planned.”
Despite these assurances, the project’s formal inclusion in the LTGEP remains pending until detailed discussions are finalised.
The CEB has reiterated that the project has not been cancelled and continues to hold strategic importance.
CEB Media Spokesman Dhammike Wimalaratne said the grid interconnection was expected to enhance system stability and enable power exchange between Sri Lanka and India.
A senior CEB official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that a detailed report was being prepared for submission to the joint working group responsible for the project, which would make the final decision on next steps.
Meanwhile, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe stated that the PUCSL had not received any formal communication regarding the project from the CEB yet.
The India-Sri Lanka grid connectivity project is based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Colombo. The MOU outlines plans for a ±320 kV, 1,000 MW Voltage Source Converter (VSC) High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) bipole line connecting Madurai, India to Mannar, Sri Lanka, with Phase I targeting 500 MW capacity.
The project has a long history dating back to 2002, starting with a pre-feasibility study funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Subsequent technical reviews by India’s Power Grid Corporation and a formal MOU in 2010 have paved the way for joint feasibility studies.
Further assessments by the CEB, India’s Power Grid Corporation, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have examined technical, economic, and financial feasibility. The HVDC option was selected for its system stability and controlled power flow benefits.
In 2023, the Sri Lankan HVDC terminal location was revised from New Habarana to Mannar to better utilise wind energy resources, prompting additional evaluation of undersea cable options.
The project is planned in two phases, with an estimated cost of $ 1.225 billion for Phase I, designed to deliver 500 MW of capacity, expandable to 1,000 MW in Phase II depending on future demand.
No final decisions on costs or timelines have been made, with stakeholders continuing discussions.