The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) welcomes the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka’s (PUCSL) call for a simple, transparent and cost-based wheeling tariff, describing it as a practical step towards more competitive energy for Sri Lanka’s industries.

Speaking at the Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026, PUCSL Director General and CEO Damitha Kumarasinghe said the tariff should be easy to understand, affordable enough to encourage investment, and fair to transmission and distribution companies, covering their costs with a reasonable return. He said discussions are at an early stage and depend on the gazetting of the relevant legal provisions.

Wheeling allows electricity generated by one party to be carried through the national grid to another customer for a regulated charge. For manufacturers, it could mean more flexibility in how they buy power and the ability to agree supply terms directly with generators.

Kumarasinghe also said investors should be able to secure electricity before committing capital, instead of waiting for generation capacity to follow an investment decision. He estimated that 15% to 20% of electricity could eventually be traded through a market mechanism, and said both wheeling and market-based trading need to be developed.

From JAAF’s perspective, the wider energy policy picture matters just as much. Open access and power wheeling regulations are moving towards being fast-tracked, and stronger incentives for battery storage are set to sit alongside them. Together, these steps could give manufacturers power options that are more dependable and more sustainable.

JAAF encourages the prompt gazetting of the legal provisions needed to move the tariff forward, and a simple, transparent, cost-based tariff that does not discourage investment. It also calls for consultation with industry, including exporters and other energy users, before the tariff is finalised, and for fair access for businesses of all sizes, including small and medium manufacturers.

JAAF looks forward to working with PUCSL, the Ministry and other stakeholders so that wheeling and electricity market reforms deliver certainty for investors and competitive energy for exporters.