India resumes electricity grid linking talks with crisis hit Sri Lanka
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

India resumes electricity grid linking talks with crisis hit Sri Lanka

According to officials, India and Sri Lanka have resumed talks on linking their electricity grids.

India has extended financial support to Sri Lanka to fight the crisis, brought by a steep decline in foreign exchange reserves that stalled imports of essentials like fuel, disrupting the power supply.

A currency devaluation and shortages have prompted the nation of 22 million to begin talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan programme, even backed by India.

The country aims to link the neighbours with a miles-long transmission line running under the Indian Ocean.

The grid connection power project came up in talks with the Indian Ministry of Power when Basil Rajapaksa, then Sri Lanka's Minister of Finance, visited New Delhi to seek assistance.

It would enable Sri Lanka to obtain electricity during operational maintenance and droughts and export excess generation to India.

About two-thirds of Sri Lanka's electricity is generated by oil and coal-fired plants, and the rest by the hydro project.

The grid connectivity power project could become part of New Delhi's requests from Sri Lanka, which has also secured Chinese infrastructure deals in recent times.

To date, India has provided about $1.9 billion through credit lines and swaps and committed up to $2 billion more to help Sri Lanka tackle its worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.

The project to link the two grids has been in the works for years, with the neighbouring country signing a pact in 2010 on feasibility studies for an undersea power cable.

Power Grid Corporation of India envisaged the deployment of either a 500 MW or a 1,000 MW undersea transmission system.

The shortest distance between India and Sri Lanka is the Palk Strait, which is about 40 km wide, and the length of an undersea cable would depend on its alignment.

The subsea electrical cables, having long spans, include the NordLink, between Germany and Norway, which is 623 km long.

Image Source

According to officials, India and Sri Lanka have resumed talks on linking their electricity grids. India has extended financial support to Sri Lanka to fight the crisis, brought by a steep decline in foreign exchange reserves that stalled imports of essentials like fuel, disrupting the power supply. A currency devaluation and shortages have prompted the nation of 22 million to begin talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan programme, even backed by India. The country aims to link the neighbours with a miles-long transmission line running under the Indian Ocean. The grid connection power project came up in talks with the Indian Ministry of Power when Basil Rajapaksa, then Sri Lanka's Minister of Finance, visited New Delhi to seek assistance. It would enable Sri Lanka to obtain electricity during operational maintenance and droughts and export excess generation to India. About two-thirds of Sri Lanka's electricity is generated by oil and coal-fired plants, and the rest by the hydro project. The grid connectivity power project could become part of New Delhi's requests from Sri Lanka, which has also secured Chinese infrastructure deals in recent times. To date, India has provided about $1.9 billion through credit lines and swaps and committed up to $2 billion more to help Sri Lanka tackle its worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. The project to link the two grids has been in the works for years, with the neighbouring country signing a pact in 2010 on feasibility studies for an undersea power cable. Power Grid Corporation of India envisaged the deployment of either a 500 MW or a 1,000 MW undersea transmission system. The shortest distance between India and Sri Lanka is the Palk Strait, which is about 40 km wide, and the length of an undersea cable would depend on its alignment. The subsea electrical cables, having long spans, include the NordLink, between Germany and Norway, which is 623 km long. Image Source

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

GST Bachat Utsav Showcases Nationwide Relief and Growth Momentum

Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, and Ashwini Vaishnaw jointly addressed a press conference in New Delhi on the GST Bachat Utsav, underscoring the far-reaching benefits of the Next-Generation GST reforms implemented ahead of Diwali.Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the revised GST rates—effective from the first day of Navratri—have simplified compliance by reducing slabs from four to two and ensuring greater benefits to consumers. The Finance Ministry is closely tracking 54 essential items to confirm that the lower tax rates are being passed on fully to end..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Indian Railways Operates 12,000 Special Trains for Festive Rush

Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, reviewed passenger movement at the Railway Board War Room and appreciated staff for their round-the-clock efforts during the festive season. He extended Diwali greetings to railway personnel across the country.To meet the surge in travel demand during Puja, Diwali, and Chhath, Indian Railways has deployed 12,011 special trains—up from 7,724 last year—ensuring smooth and comfortable travel for passengers nationwide. Between 1 and 19 October 2025, 3,960 special..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

TRAI Evaluates Mobile Network Quality Across Assam Districts

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its Independent Drive Test (IDT) report for the Assam Licensed Service Area, evaluating network performance across Silchar city and Hailakandi and Karimganj districts. Conducted between 18 and 22 August 2025, the tests covered 284 km of city routes, 10 hotspot locations, and 2.4 km of walk tests.The assessment, supervised by the TRAI Regional Office, Kolkata, examined real-world service quality across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies in both urban and rural zones. Key parameters included call setup success rate, drop call rate, laten..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?