Kerawalapitiya, Sri Lanka — President Ranil Wickremesinghe officially inaugurated Sri Lanka's first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) power plant in Kerawalapitiya, marking a significant milestone in the country’s energy sector.

The new facility, the Sobadhanavi Combined Cycle Power Plant, currently adds 220 megawatts (MW) to the national grid, with plans to expand its output to 350 MW by 2025. The total generation is expected to satisfy 12% of Sri Lanka's electricity demand.

The Sobadhanavi Power Plant represents a crucial advancement for the nation, as it utilizes LNG in a combined cycle system. This method not only generates electricity by burning natural gas but also harnesses the excess heat to power a steam turbine, thereby enhancing overall efficiency. Combined cycle power plants are known for their higher efficiency and lower emissions compared to traditional thermal power plants.

Phase 2 of the project, scheduled for completion by 2025. This will be crucial for Sri Lanka, which has been grappling with energy shortages and a heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels. The addition of LNG to the country's energy mix is expected to diversify energy sources and reduce dependency on more polluting fuels like coal and oil.Lakdhanavi Ltd., a prominent name in Sri Lanka's energy sector, executed the project. The company has been at the forefront of developing the nation’s energy infrastructure, contributing to various power generation projects that have helped stabilize the electricity supply in recent years.