In a quiet corner of Pallekele, Kandy District, 18.8 acres of land have been transformed into the newest front line in Sri Lanka’s push toward energy independence.
Abans Group has officially commissioned a 5 MW ground-mounted solar power plant, spearheaded by Cleantech Ltd — the conglomerate’s dedicated integrated environmental solutions and sustainability arm. The project represents a significant step in Abans’ long-term ambitions to strengthen the country’s renewable energy infrastructure and support its broader transition toward energy security, economic resilience, and environmental sustainability.
For Cleantech, this project is less a one-off and more a continuation of a legacy. Since its inception, the company has built a reputation that mirrors the trust long associated with the Abans brand — moving well beyond its original focus on environmental solutions and urban sanitation services to become a genuine player in cutting-edge green technology.
The financial structure behind the project reveals just how committed Abans is to the venture: Cleantech holds a majority 75% stake, translating to an investment of Rs. 1.2 billion, while the remaining 25% is owned by Clean Energy Pallekele Ltd.
This isn’t Cleantech’s first foray into clean energy, either. The subsidiary has steadily built out its green portfolio — expanding into EV charging and rooftop solar solutions as part of a broader commitment to sustainable mobility. Its Energique by Cleantech arm already operates an EV fast-charging facility, feeding the growing wave of electric vehicle adoption in the country while opening up an entirely new, sustainable revenue stream.
The roots of this journey trace back further than you might expect. Cleantech’s green energy ambitions began modestly in 2024, when the company first ventured into rooftop solar with an installation at the DOK Solutions warehouse facility in Dagonna, Katunayake. That smaller project, it turns out, was the proving ground that paved the way for this much larger, ground-mounted investment.
The payoff, according to the company, will be felt well beyond Pallekele. The new plant is expected to make a meaningful contribution to the national grid, helping stabilise the country’s electricity supply while chipping away at its reliance on fossil fuels. Abans projects the facility will power thousands of homes and businesses annually, cutting the nation’s carbon footprint in the process and feeding directly into Sri Lanka’s renewable energy targets for 2030.
Abans Group Managing Director Rusi Pestonjee framed the project in terms that go beyond kilowatts and rupees. “By diversifying our energy mix and embracing solar, we are helping Sri Lanka build resilience against power shortages and economic uncertainty. Through Cleantech, we are not only producing energy but empowering independence for households, businesses, and the nation. Therefore, this project goes far beyond an investment, it is a commitment to the nation’s progress, lighting the way toward a more self-reliant and sustainable Sri Lanka.”
Looking ahead, Abans Group says it remains open to further strategic partnerships and investment opportunities aligned with the country’s renewable energy vision — framing the Pallekele plant not as a destination, but as the opening chapter of a much larger green investment portfolio under the Abans umbrella.
It’s a fitting next step for a company with deep roots in Sri Lankan commerce. Founded by entrepreneur Aban Pestonjee in 1968, Abans Group has grown over the decades into a sprawling conglomerate spanning retail, manufacturing, logistics, finance, real estate, hospitality, and environmental services — and now, increasingly, the future of the nation’s energy grid.