As global tensions erupt in the Middle East and energy supply routes choke under conflict, Sri Lanka is forced into rationing, uncertainty, and public anxiety. It is the direct result of a policy failure that has persisted for decades. We have built an economy that runs almost entirely on imported fossil fuel, and we are now paying the price.
The latest global shock triggered by the US-Israel confrontation with Iran and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz should be a wake-up call that cannot be ignored. Over a fifth of global oil and gas supplies have been affected. Prices have surged. Supply chains have tightened. For large economies, this is a serious challenge. For a small, import-dependent country like Sri Lanka, it is a catastrophe.
Every litre of fuel burned in this country is tied to a geopolitical risk we cannot control. Every spike in oil prices translates into pressure on our foreign reserves, inflation at home and hardship for ordinary people. Yet successive Governments have continued to treat this dependency as inevitable.
It should not be.
It is true that we have no meaningful domestic fossil fuel resources. What we do have is sunlight, wind, and a geographical advantage that could have been harnessed years ago. Instead, we have delayed, debated and deferred. The result is a power system that still leans heavily on thermal generation at night, even as renewable capacity struggles to expand within an outdated grid.
The argument for renewables is no longer about climate change alone. It is about national security, economic stability and political independence. When over 90 per cent of new renewable energy projects globally are already cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives, the excuse of cost no longer holds. What remains is a failure of planning and execution.
The Government must now confront this reality with urgency.
First, the national grid must be upgraded without further delay. It is no secret that rooftop solar adoption has grown, driven by households and businesses trying to shield themselves from rising costs. Yet the system cannot absorb the full potential of this generation. Power cuts to solar supply during peak production hours have become a common complaint. This is not a failure of renewable energy. It is a failure of infrastructure.
Investment in grid modernisation, storage solutions and smart distribution systems is no longer optional. Battery storage, pumped hydro and grid balancing technologies must be prioritised. Without them, Sri Lanka will continue to waste clean energy during the day and burn expensive fuel at night.
Second, rooftop solar must be aggressively promoted and properly integrated. Incentives should be stable, transparent and protected from sudden policy reversals that undermine investor confidence. Small producers should be seen as partners in energy generation. If managed correctly, distributed solar can significantly reduce daytime demand on the grid and ease pressure on national supply.
Third, the country must address the deep structural issues within its existing thermal energy sector. Coal-powered plants such as Lakvijaya have long been mired in controversy, from technical failures to allegations of mismanagement and corruption. These plants are not only environmentally damaging but also financially draining when inefficiencies and breakdowns are taken into account. Continuing to rely on them as a backbone of national energy policy is both outdated and risky.
Fourth, there must be a clear and enforceable roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels. Not vague targets or aspirational statements, but binding timelines backed by legislation and investment. Energy policy in Sri Lanka has too often shifted with political cycles. This transition must be insulated from that instability. It requires bipartisan commitment and long-term planning that extends beyond electoral interests.
Finally, energy efficiency must be treated as a national priority. Reducing demand is as important as increasing supply. Electrification of transport, better building standards and public awareness campaigns can all play a role in lowering the country’s energy burden.
The truth is simple. We cannot control global conflicts. It cannot dictate oil prices or secure uninterrupted supply routes in times of war. What it can control is how exposed it chooses to be.
For too long, we have chosen vulnerability.
This moment demands a different choice. A decisive shift towards renewable energy is no longer a matter of preference or environmental virtue. It is an economic necessity and a strategic imperative. Delay will only deepen the cycle of crisis, rationing and public frustration.
The question is no longer whether Sri Lanka should transition. It is whether the Government has the will to act before the next shock hits.