• Decided at joint tech teams meeting in Delhi 

In a significant milestone for regional energy cooperation, the joint technical team of India and Sri Lanka has successfully concluded a high-level meeting on 16 June, confirming the technical parameters for the much-anticipated India-Sri Lanka power grid interconnection. 

The development marks a critical step forward in actualising cross-border electricity trade between the two South Asian neighbours, with wide-reaching implications for Sri Lanka’s energy security and economic stability.

The meeting, held last week (16 June) in New Delhi, brought together senior engineers, experts, and government representatives from both the countries. After extensive technical discussions, the team confirmed the technical parameters of the proposed power grid interconnection. With the technical groundwork now in place, both Governments are expected to move towards formalising the financial and operational aspects of the interconnection project.

The transmission line will enable Sri Lanka to import electricity during shortages and eventually export renewable energy in times of surplus. It opens up new opportunities for diversifying energy sources, improving grid stability, and integrating into the regional power market. The move gains greater significance in light of recent developments in the region. Nepal, a landlocked country rich in hydropower resources, has already begun exporting electricity to Bangladesh through India’s grid under a trilateral arrangement. This successful model has demonstrated the feasibility and economic benefits of subregional power trade, encouraging other South Asian countries to pursue similar collaborations. Analysts believe that Sri Lanka, with its growing renewable energy sector — particularly wind and solar — could follow a similar path. By tapping into India’s vast transmission network, Sri Lanka could access cheaper and more stable power while also developing the export potential in the long term.