Pathfinder Foundation ‘Dialogue with Diplomats’ today to discuss energy independence and security

Tuesday, 8 July 2025 04:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Pathfinder Foundation will today hold a half-day session at Courtyard by Marriott to discuss policy options and strategies that need to be adopted to achieve sovereignty and independence of energy using the country’s abundant renewable energy resources, including hydro and solar energy.

The discussion will also explore challenges to be faced in reaching these goals and make recommendations, establishing partnerships aimed at sustainable growth while safeguarding national interests and political stability.

The session will feature speakers who are experts in the energy sector. Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Director-General Harsha Wickramasinghe will serve as the main speaker, whilst Finance Ministry former Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) former Chairman Saliya Wickramasuriya will contribute as panellists.

During Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in 2022, the country struggled to supply the necessary fuel and electricity to meet the domestic demand. This is largely due to the heavy dependency on a single source of energy supply, with nearly one-fourth of the island’s import expenditure allocated to fuel imports. The acute shortage of foreign exchange faced during the crisis disrupted energy supply, causing widespread impact on social life, rising cost of living, and slowdown in all economic activities – including manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. The key lesson learned is the paramount importance of energy independence and energy security for a small economy like Sri Lanka, vulnerable to external shocks. This should not merely be a technical goal for the nation but rather a foundation for long-term economic stability and resilience.

‘Dialogue with Diplomats’ is a series of presentations hosted by the Pathfinder Foundation, which aims to assist the diplomatic community based in Sri Lanka in gaining insights into current developments in the country from the perspective of local experts.