By Ceylon Signal 
Sri Lanka could face heightened pressure on its national power supply as El Niño–driven weather patterns threaten both electricity demand and generation capacity, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman K. P. L. Chandralal cautioned yesterday (24).
Speaking at a media briefing held to announce purchase prices for renewable energy–based power plants, Chandralal said the prevailing climatic conditions are likely to push electricity demand upward as temperatures rise across the country. At the same time, hydroelectric generation could decline if water levels in reservoirs continue to drop.
According to Chandralal, this dual impact — increased consumption and reduced generation — poses a significant risk to the stability of the national grid. He warned that if the situation worsens, Sri Lanka may be compelled to impose power cuts to manage the imbalance.
Hydropower accounts for a major share of Sri Lanka’s renewable energy mix, and reservoir depletion during El Niño cycles has historically strained the system. The PUCSL Chairman stressed the importance of accelerating renewable energy integration and improving demand management to mitigate potential disruptions.
Chandralal’s remarks come at a time when the government is pushing for expanded renewable energy investments, with new pricing structures aimed at encouraging private-sector participation.