Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has formally approved a joint venture with India to establish solar power plants in Trincomalee’s eastern port district, finally putting in place a plan that was first proposed almost two decades ago.
The two-phase project will be undertaken in Sampur, with an initial 50-megawatt solar power plant, followed by a 70-megawatt expansion. The project will be carried out by Trincomalee Power Company Ltd, a joint venture between Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
The decision, announced by Sri Lankan Health Minister and official government spokesperson Nalinda Jayathissa, follows a nearly two-decade delay in implementing a power project in Trincomalee. Initially, in 2006, both governments had agreed to establish a 500 MW coal-fired power plant in the region. However, the project faced legal challenges in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court, ultimately leading to its cancellation.
Subsequently, Sri Lanka expressed interest in partnering with India on an LNG (liquefied natural gas) plant, but this too did not materialise. The latest shift to solar power reflects a broader move towards renewable energy, with Sri Lanka aiming to generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
The Sri Lankan government has stated that this initiative aligns with its commitment to sustainable energy while strengthening bilateral energy cooperation with India.
The announcement of this solar project comes against the backdrop of the Adani Group’s withdrawal from a separate renewable energy initiative in Sri Lanka.
Jayathissa addressed the Adani Group’s exit, stating that the Sri Lankan government was open to reconsidering the Indian conglomerate’s investment—but only if it agreed to renegotiate the purchase price to ensure economic viability. “Our only concern is the purchase price,” he stressed.
Trincomalee, home to one of the deepest natural harbours in the world, has long been of geopolitical interest to both India and China. Over the years, the region has seen increasing Indian investment, particularly in energy and infrastructure projects, as New Delhi seeks to maintain influence.
Trincomalee has long been an area where successive Sri Lankan governments have pursued militarisation and Sinhalisation policies, often displacing local Tamil populations.