The Federation of Renewable Energy Developers (FRED) has called on the government to immediately reverse its decision to slash rooftop solar feed-in tariffs and reduce equity premiums for ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) projects.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, FRED President Thusitha Peiris said the move undermines Sri Lanka’s renewable energy future and criticized the government’s failure to invest in critical grid stabilization infrastructure such as Battery Energy Storage Systems.
FRED also accused the government of bypassing open dialogue with industry stakeholders and added that some 30 renewable energy projects have stalled as a result of current policies.
FRED Executive Committee Member Prabath Wickramasinghe meanwhile criticized the committee responsible for tariff revisions, alleging bias due to the absence of renewable energy supplier representation and independent regulators such as the Public Utilities Commission.
The Ministry of Power and Energy appointed the committee in October 2024 to review 40 renewable energy projects, including the Mannar Wind Power Project.
However, Engineer Parakrama Jayasinghe, member of FRED warned that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will be unable to fulfil his government’s ambitious goal of reducing electricity tariffs by 30% under the current energy policies which discourage investment in renewable energy. (Newswire)
