Parliament Committee eyes structural reforms to cut electricity generation costs

Tuesday, 24 June 2025 03:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development recently discussed deep structural reforms to the country’s electricity sector, as rising generation costs and integration challenges for renewable energy sources continue to pressure the national grid.

These were taken up at a committee meeting Chaired by MP Ajith P. Perera on 13 June, along with Power and Energy Ministry Secretary and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Acting Chairman Prof. K.T.M. Udayanga Hemapala, and representatives from several institutions including Lanka Electricity Company Ltd., the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, and the Engineers’ Union of the CEB.

The Committee highlighted the need to adopt strategies that could reduce electricity generation costs and to proceed according to a long-term plan.

Key matters discussed included the issues faced in integrating renewable energy sources such as solar power into the system, proposals for reducing electricity generation costs, and proposals related to the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants to minimise generation costs.

The Committee Chair instructed the respective parties to present the key points raised during this discussion, along with initial proposals relating to the reforms in the electricity sector, to the Committee.

Perera also stated that these matters would be discussed further in the future and that the Committee is expected to present a related proposal as a report to Parliament.

MPs Kabir Hashim, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha and S.M. Marikkar also participated in this Committee meeting.