Sri Lanka - World Nuclear Outlook Report

Nuclear policy and outlook

The Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB’s) Long Term Generation Expansion Plan 2025-2044 includes a 600 MWe nuclear unit in its base case, entering the system in the 2040s. The plan notes that accommodating a single unit above 600 MWe in the Sri Lankan network would be technically challenging, based on anticipated demand growth and a generation mix expected to be dominated by intermittent renewables. The previous plan (2023-2042) added that alternative small-scale reactors could be suitable for the country in the future, once these technologies have been proven.

Sri Lanka has identified five candidate sites, established a management structure to oversee procurement of nuclear reactors, and drafted a comprehensive nuclear law. The Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB) has also set out a roadmap for 2024-2035 with a tentative timeline that includes site selection and characterization, establishing the regulatory body and the owner/operator, issuing the bid invitation specification by 2027, and construction and start of operation of the plant by 2034.

In October 2025 the Atomic Energy Board and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Council were reassigned from the Ministry of Power and Energy to the Ministry of Science and Technology. In March 2026 the CEB was dissolved under the Sri Lanka Electricity Act and its functions were transferred to six successor companies covering generation, transmission, distribution and system operations. The CEB’s duties and obligations in the nuclear programme will pass to a new company incorporated under the Act.

In March and April 2026 Russia raised the prospect of nuclear cooperation, including a small modular reactor. Sri Lanka declined, with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath stating that the current emphasis is on renewable energy “for the moment”.

Table Lk.1 Contributions to total capacity projection in 2050 (gross)

60 year operation (MWe)	80 year operation (MWe)	Currently under construction capacity (MWe)	Planned capacity (MWe)	Proposed capacity (MWe)	Potential capacity (MWe)	Government capacity target (MWe)	Additional capacity* required to meet government target (MWe)	Total capacity (MWe)
-	-	-	-	-	-	600	-	600
						*Capacity additional to operable, under construction, planned, proposed and potential capacities required to meet the government target.

 

Readiness Assessment

Sri Lanka has studied nuclear power for more than a decade and has built an institutional foundation, with five candidate sites identified, nuclear included in the approved long-term generation plan. However, no final decision to construct a plant has been announced.

Country Category	Candidate
Policy Framework Readiness	Low Nuclear is included in the government’s long-term generation plan base case and government programme structures remain active, but the government has not yet taken a final decision to construct a plant.
Institutional & Infrastructure Readiness	Low The reassignment of SLAEB to the Ministry of Science and Technology (October 2025) and the dissolution of the CEB (March 2026) have changed institutional responsibilities, and the future owner/operator role is not yet defined.
Programme & Project Development Readiness	Low-Moderate Candidate sites, a DBFOT financing concept and procurement preparations exist, and the SLAEB roadmap targets a bid invitation specification by 2027, but there is no selected site or technology.
Target Achievability	Low-Moderate A 600 MWe plant by the early 2040s is achievable given the long remaining timeframe, but only if a final programme decision and project selection occur well before the mid-2030s.