The Sri Lankan delegation led by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya showcased the country’s economic recovery, governance reforms and investment opportunities during a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said.

Speaking to the Daily News from Davos, Dr. Fernando said the engagements were aimed at deepening international partnerships and advancing key national priorities at a crucial time for Sri Lanka’s economic progress and sustainable development. He described the meetings as highly successful, with a strong focus on economic recovery, governance reforms, investment promotion, tourism and post-cyclone rebuilding efforts.

He said the delegation emphasised high-end collaborations, partnerships and investor connections, reflecting Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with global stakeholders to support long-term economic stability.

Discussions were held with representatives of the European Union, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Asian Development Bank (ADB), the President of Singapore, several UN agencies, the Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce, the Sri Lankan business community in Switzerland, and other international organisations and private sector leaders.

Among the key engagements was a meeting with European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela, which focused on strengthening Sri Lanka–EU cooperation and advancing shared interests. A separate meeting with Masato Kanda, President and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the ADB, reviewed ongoing cooperation and future collaboration, with Kanda reaffirming ADB’s readiness to support rebuilding and relief efforts following Cyclone Ditwah.

The delegation also met Hassan El Houry, Chairman of Menzies Aviation, to explore opportunities in aviation services and connectivity, and held discussions with Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, during which the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for EU support following the cyclone and requested continued assistance for recovery and development.

At the Global Tourism Forum held at the Euronews Hub in Davos, the Prime Minister highlighted Sri Lanka’s tourism potential and the diverse experiences offered by the country. Meetings were also held with UNDP representatives, including Alexander De Croo, where Sri Lanka expressed gratitude for UN support in flood relief and livelihood assistance.

In addition, talks were held with Robert M. Uggla, Chairman of A.P. Moller Holding, focusing on private sector engagement and potential areas of collaboration. The delegation also met IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, who reaffirmed the IMF’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic recovery.

A high-level discussion on addressing challenges in Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector and related environmental concerns was held this morning (22) at the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the meeting was conducted in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Enhancing China–Sri Lanka Agricultural Productivity and focused on the joint implementation of programmes to resolve key issues facing the country’s agriculture sector while improving overall productivity.

The discussion explored the potential use of Chinese technology and tools to tackle agricultural challenges and associated environmental issues. Attention was also given to measures to minimise crop damage caused by wild animals.

In addition, participants discussed possible assistance from China for the cleaning and restoration of the Beira Lake, as part of broader environmental rehabilitation efforts.

Those who took part in the discussion included Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Vishvajith Kandegama; Professor Zhang Guozhu of Guizhou University; Cao Xuan and Wei Ping from the Department of Commerce and Management of Hubei Province, along with several other representatives.

Showers will occur at times in Northern, North-central, Eastern provinces and in Matale and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Fairly Heavy falls above 50 mm are likely at some places in Northern, North-central provinces and in Trincomalee districts.

Several spells of showers will occur in Uva and Northwestern provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places elsewhere during evening or night.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the early hours of the morning.

January 22, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s renewable energy industry is facing mounting financial strain as repeated restrictions on power generation by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) are estimated to have caused losses approaching Rs. 2 billion, according to industry representatives.

The Grid Connected Solar Power Association (GCSPA) says large-scale renewable energy facilities have been routinely instructed to scale back or halt production since February 2025, particularly during weekends and public holidays between mid-morning and mid-afternoon. The situation has reportedly worsened in recent days, with similar instructions now being issued even on weekdays.

GCSPA President Prabath Wickramasinghe said the curtailments have been justified by authorities on the grounds of an oversupply of solar power during daylight hours. However, he argued that this highlights the urgent need for modern energy storage solutions, noting that many countries with high renewable penetration have already adopted battery storage systems to manage surplus generation.

Industry officials point out that approvals for battery energy storage systems have stalled, despite Cabinet clearance granted last June for a pricing structure and subsequent tax concessions approved by the Finance Ministry. Although the Ministry of Power and Energy directed the CEB several months ago to move forward with implementation, developers say there has been little progress.

The absence of storage facilities means that excess daytime electricity cannot be saved for evening peak demand, typically between 6.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. As a result, the sector estimates daily losses of around four million units of electricity, while owners of ground-mounted solar plants report an average drop of about 15 per cent in monthly income compared to last year.

Former GCSPA committee member Kishan Nanayakkara stressed that renewable energy plants are contractually designated as “must-run” facilities under their power purchase agreements. Unlike thermal power stations, which receive capacity payments even when idle, renewable producers are paid only for energy dispatched to the grid. He warned that recent curtailments effectively amount to unilateral breaches of these contracts.

The association is calling on the CEB and the Power and Energy Ministry to introduce interim compensation mechanisms to offset losses, noting that longer-term solutions such as battery storage will take years to materialise due to procurement and implementation timelines. Despite repeated discussions, industry representatives say no compensation has yet been forthcoming, raising concerns about investor confidence and the future pace of Sri Lanka’s renewable energy transition.