India-Sri Lanka Energy Talks Spark Major Collaborations

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe held bilateral discussions focusing on joint energy projects, including a proposed petroleum pipeline and solar power plant construction. Topics also included LNG supply, oil and gas exploration, port expansions, and Sri Lanka's digital identity card project.

In a pivotal move to bolster bilateral relations, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe convened on Thursday to discuss joint energy projects, with a proposed petroleum pipeline garnering significant attention.

The high-level dialogue centered on various initiatives aimed at enhancing energy connectivity and advancing the renewable energy sector between the two nations. Notable discussions included the supply of Liquified Natural Gas, the petroleum pipeline, and oil and gas exploration projects.

According to an official release, construction of a solar power plant in Trincomalee is slated to begin next month. The discussions also covered Indian-supported projects to augment Sri Lanka's liquid milk industry and fertiliser production.

Jaishankar and Wickremesinghe deliberated on India's support for developing Trincomalee and expanding the Kankesanthurai port. The development of Jaffna Airport and Colombo Airport with Indian assistance was also a key agenda item, alongside accelerating Sri Lanka's digital identity card project, marking a milestone in the country's digitization journey.

A significant highlight was the commissioning of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), comprising a main center in Colombo and a sub-center in Hambantota, where a Chinese-funded port is located. Jaishankar's visit, his first since beginning his second term, comes at a crucial time when Sri Lanka's Supreme Court is addressing environmental concerns around an Adani Group wind power project in Mannar.

Opposition members in Sri Lanka's Parliament questioned the brevity of Jaishankar's visit, suggesting it was an attempt to pressure Sri Lanka over these projects. Nonetheless, the Sri Lankan government has upheld that Adani's investment is essential for meeting its renewable energy targets of 70% by 2030, recently approving a 20-year power purchase agreement with Adani Green Energy for 484-megawatt wind power stations in the northeast region.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)