Sajith meets PUCSL to challenge govt's solar sector policy changes

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa called for an immediate reversal of recent policy changes to the rooftop solar sector, saying that new restrictions threaten green energy investments and burden electricity consumers across Sri Lanka.

Speaking during a visit to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) in Colombo on Monday (28), Premadasa met with PUCSL chairman Professor K. P. L. Chandralal and senior officials to lodge his objections regarding the government's energy policy direction.

Disruption to renewable energy expansion

The Opposition Leader said the government's decision to discontinue the Net Metering and Net Accounting schemes for new rooftop connections in favour of the Net Plus model severely discourages small and medium entrepreneurs from investing in solar technology.

He pointed out that flat tariffs for rooftop solar systems up to 500 kilowatts were cut from Rs. 37 per unit to Rs. 27.06 in July 2024, with subsequent revisions further eroding investor confidence.

The Opposition Leader noted that developing 2,500 megawatts of solar capacity could save the national economy approximately Rs. 25 billion annually.

He also accused the government of arbitrarily freezing project approvals and creating artificial barriers for young professionals entering the renewable energy market.

Fuel reliance and systemic reforms

The Opposition Leader claimed that current policies directly benefit fossil fuel interests, describing the continued reliance on thermal energy generation as a setback for national green targets.

He highlighted the ongoing operation of power plants such as Yugadanavi, Sobadhanavi, and Sahasdanavi, arguing that delays in securing liquefied natural gas have forced a continued dependence on expensive diesel fuel.

The Opposition Leader noted that while the government publicly champions renewable energy, its regulatory decisions actively weaken the financial viability of private solar developers.

He stated that the opposition will pursue legal and political avenues both locally and internationally to protect the domestic solar industry and ensure affordable clean energy access for the public.