New Delhi: India and Sri Lanka on Friday reviewed bilateral cooperation in the power sector during a high-level meeting in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, while the Sri Lankan delegation was headed by Anura Karunathilake, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy of Sri Lanka.
The Ministers reviewed the progress of key bilateral initiatives, including the proposed India-Sri Lanka High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnection and the Sampur Solar Power Project.
They also discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation in cross-border electricity trade, renewable energy, transmission infrastructure and capacity building, with a view to enhancing energy security and supporting the region's clean energy transition.
The Indian side shared its experience in transmission system development through the Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) framework under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Both sides reviewed progress under existing bilateral mechanisms and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in the power sector to promote sustainable development and regional energy security.
Minister Manohar Lal reiterated India's commitment to the long-standing India-Sri Lanka energy partnership. Anura Karunathilake appreciated India's continued support and reaffirmed Sri Lanka's commitment to expanding bilateral energy cooperation.
The meeting was attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, along with senior officials from the Government of India. The Sri Lankan delegation included Mahishini Colonne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, and other senior officials.
The high-level meeting follows Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's recent visit to Colombo, during which he reiterated India's commitment to Sri Lanka under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Vision MAHASAGAR.
The visit also reaffirmed New Delhi's commitment to implementing the vision outlined during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's December 2024 visit and the bilateral agreements finalised during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's April 2025 visit.