Elecrama organisers with Power and Energy Deputy Minister Ajith C. Perera and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Samantha Ranatunga


Aiming to strengthen the trade partnership between India and Sri Lanka, a high-profile delegation from the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA) visited Sri Lanka last week to promote Elecrama-2016 and boost economic ties between the two nations.

The delegation from the IEEMA conducted a series of presentations and discussions in the city with the objective of introducing and elaborating Elecrama-2016 in the Sri Lankan market.

The delegation held direct meetings with the top officials of the power sector and utilities. The series of roadshows across the globe are designed in order to interact with the key industry stakeholders and decision-makers and widen awareness of the enormous business potential afforded by the burgeoning Indian electricity sector. 

Sri Lanka has already achieved a grid connectivity of 98 percent, which is commendable by South Asian standards. The current total installed power generation capacity of the country is approximately 4,050 MW, consisting of 900 MW of coal power, 1,335 MW of oil burning thermal power, 1,375 MW of hydropower and 442 MW of non-conventional renewable energy sources such as wind, mini hydro, biomass and solar power plants.

Easun Reyrolle Limited Past President Jitendra K. Agarwal said, “The power and energy sector of Sri Lanka is looking forward to an energy self-sufficient nation by 2030. But the country faces numerous challenges like that of inadequacy of transmission and distribution – under investment and delayed investments, which are causing severe constraints to the operation, reliability and the quality of electricity supply. Moreover, the electricity supply industry is burdened with a total debt in excess of Rs.90,000 million most of which is not being serviced. Also the rapid increase in petroleum prices is affecting all sections of society and the economy.”

He further added, “Sri Lanka is planning to increase the share of electricity generation from renewable energy sources from 50 percent in 2014 to 60 percent by 2020. There is enormous interest in the rapidly-growing Indian power industry among the key industry players in Sri Lanka and Elecrama offers companies from Sri Lanka an unmatched opportunity to engage with the movers and shakers from the Indian electricity industry and unlock vast new areas of business. 
With over 100 countries participating, thousands of latest production and solutions on display and almost every topic covered, Elecrama-2016 is all set to become the World Electricity Forum with unique features like World Utility Summit, International T&D Conclave, Power Round Table, Innovation Pavilion, Network to Net Worth to name a few. This edition is also expected to surpass all previous editions, by attracting over 1,200 exhibitors exhibiting few thousands of products, with over 110,000 footfalls from about 120 countries.”

The Government of India has envisaged an investment of nearly US $ 250 billion in the power sector in the next four to five years, with US $ 100 billion in the renewable energy and US $ 50 billion in electricity transmission segment.

The roadshow in promotion of Elecrama was held with the support of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on January 11 in Colombo. Power and Renewable Energy Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera was the chief guest at the event, with Indian Deputy High Commissioner Arindam Bagchi and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Samantha Ranatunga being the guests of honour.