• Gas pipeline yet to undergo feasibility study
• No progress beyond MoU on Trincomalee energy hub
• Projects revisited during Indian Vice President’s visit
• No timeline set for implementation

Despite India–Sri Lanka energy cooperation projects being discussed during Indian Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan's recent visit to Sri Lanka, the Energy Ministry stated that no immediate implementation is planned for either the proposed gas pipeline or the Trincomalee energy hub projects, as initial steps remain to be completed.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (22), Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said that with regard to the proposed gas pipeline, a feasibility study has not yet been carried out, and there is no foreseeable action to move the project forward at this stage.

Commenting on the proposed energy hub in Trincomalee, he said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had already been signed. However, beyond the signing of the MoU, he said that was no significant progress.

He further noted these projects were first discussed during the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in 2025. "The matters were taken up again during the recent visit of Radhakrishnan, during which both parties agreed to continue engagement on the projects."

When queried as to whether there is any anticipated timeline for the completion of the projects, Karunathilaka said that there is no timeline as such.

The proposed projects drew renewed attention after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the Trincomalee oil farm project and the planned India–Sri Lanka oil pipeline were among the key topics discussed during Radhakrishnan’s visit.

Sri Lanka, India, and the UAE signed an agreement last year, following nearly two years of discussions, to establish a multi-product oil pipeline linking the two countries and to develop the Trincomalee oil storage complex.