The plan to establish Trincomalee as an energy hub in collaboration with India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Sri Lanka faces an uncertain future, as the latest rounds of discussions have yet to yield significant progress. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning yesterday (15), Ministry of Energy Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala revealed that despite four to five rounds of discussions, there had been no final conclusion or substantial advancement on the project. 

“We have held four or five discussions, but there has been no progress. However, we have not given up on the project, nor have we decided to withdraw from it,” he said.

The proposed energy hub aims to transform Trincomalee, a strategic port on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast, into a major regional energy and logistics centre. Plans include the development of a multi-product pipeline, extensive bunkering facilities, and potentially a refinery, making it a critical node for fuel storage, transportation, and distribution in the Indian Ocean region. 

The initiative gained momentum during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Sri Lanka in April, when Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were exchanged between Prof. Hemapala, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and UAE Ambassador to Sri Lanka Khaled Nasser AlAmeri. 

The agreements envisioned a joint effort to develop Trincomalee into a world-class energy hub capable of handling large-scale fuel storage and supply for South Asia and beyond.