Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector is caught in the middle of an escalating standoff — and the regulator meant to champion it is now facing accusations of looking the other way.
The Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) has leveled serious allegations against the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA), claiming the Authority is pursuing a “silent” policy while the Energy Ministry and electricity licensees push through measures the ECA says are actively harming rooftop solar users.
In a letter sent to the SLSEA Chairperson and Director General yesterday (30), ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika accused the Authority of failing to fulfill its statutory obligations under both the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024, and the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Act, No. 35 of 2007.
At the heart of the dispute is a directive from the Ministry Secretary instructing a halt to the existing Net Metering and Net Accounting schemes for rooftop solar systems, in favor of the Net Plus scheme exclusively. Dhammika didn’t mince words in questioning why SLSEA — the very institution tasked with driving renewable energy development — has stayed quiet.
“The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) is the authority responsible for deciding electricity tariff methods and licence conditions under the Electricity Act. As the main institution responsible for renewable energy development, why has the SLSEA failed to take an independent stand against this unlawful order and present the scientific facts to the regulator?” Dhammika asked.
The ECA also pointed to the stakes involved: Sri Lankans have already poured their own money into nearly 2,500 megawatts of rooftop solar capacity feeding into the national grid. Dhammika warned that new restrictions could render these investments unprofitable, dealing a serious blow to the local solar industry — and he didn’t hold back on who he believes stands to benefit.
“Why does the SLSEA remain silent to fulfil the interests of the diesel and thermal power plant mafia by allowing solar investments to become completely loss-making and the local industry to be destroyed in this way?” he questioned, also raising concerns about how this squares with the national target of sourcing 70% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
The ECA is now demanding that SLSEA publicly release its official technical and legal position on the Ministry Secretary’s Net Plus directive, and formally petition the PUCSL to reinstate Net Metering and Net Accounting while revising what it calls an unfair tariff structure under Net Plus.
The threat of escalation looms large. “If the Authority fails to act, we will consider filing a writ petition against the Chairperson, the DG and the Board of Directors over the failure to carry out the statutory duties given to them,” Dhammika warned.
For his part, SLSEA Chairperson Dr. Wijendra J. Bandara firmly pushed back when contacted by The Daily Morning, rejecting the characterization of the Authority as silent or complicit.
“That is not true. As the Authority, we have always worked to promote renewable and sustainable energy. Those who work with us know it. I myself have written hundreds of newspaper articles, and all of them have been on promoting renewable and sustainable energy. I don’t know why they are making this allegation,” he said.