Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen energy security while reducing dependence on fossil fuels will come under scrutiny at the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026, as policymakers and investors assess how the country can build a more reliable, affordable and competitive energy system.

The energy transition will be among the key economic issues discussed at the summit, organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on October 12 and 13, with a dedicated session focusing on the balance between energy security, sustainability and economic growth.

The session, titled “Beyond Fossil Dependence: Balancing Security, Sustainability, and Growth,” will examine the economic implications of diversifying Sri Lanka’s energy mix, expanding renewable energy and mobilising investment in the infrastructure required to support the transition.

Reliable and competitively priced energy is critical to industrial development and business competitiveness, particularly as Sri Lanka seeks to attract new investment, expand production and strengthen its position in regional and global value chains. The transition away from fossil fuels therefore presents both an investment requirement and an opportunity to modernise the country’s energy infrastructure.

The discussions will focus on how Sri Lanka can accelerate renewable energy deployment without compromising the reliability of electricity supplies to businesses and households. They will also consider the policy and infrastructure reforms needed to create a more investment-friendly environment for the development of new energy capacity.

Edore Onomakpome, Regional Infrastructure Industry Manager for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal at the International Finance Corporation, will deliver the keynote address and participate in a panel discussion.

The panel will include G.M.R.D. Aponsu, Secretary to the Ministry of Energy; Damitha Kumarasinghe, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka; and Manjula Perera, Managing Director of WindForce PLC. The discussion will be moderated by Sheran Fernando, Senior Advisor at Plus94.

A key focus will be the role of public-private partnerships in expanding energy infrastructure, introducing new technologies and mobilising capital for Sri Lanka’s energy transition.

The summit will examine how investment and energy policy can be aligned with the country’s broader economic objectives, including improving energy security, supporting industrial expansion and creating new opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

For Sri Lanka, the challenge is increasingly to ensure that the shift towards cleaner energy does not come at the expense of affordability or reliability, while creating the conditions for greater private-sector participation and long-term investment.

The energy session is part of the broader Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026, which will bring together policymakers, business leaders and investors to examine issues affecting the country’s economic growth and investment prospects.

The summit is supported by Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka as Platinum Sponsor, VISA Worldwide (Pvt) Ltd. as Gold Sponsor and South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd. as Bronze Sponsor, with the Asian Development Bank serving as Strategic Development Partner.

Registrations for the summit are now open through the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.