Sri Lanka’s regulatory authorities work on several fronts to electrify its mobility. Several government agencies, including the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Transport, are working towards making this mission a reality.
Furthermore, a State Ministerial Sub Committee has been appointed to facilitate EV transition under the Presidential Task Force for a Green Economy to provide solutions to climate change. A Cabinet Memorandum has been approved for this purpose.
The government is also focusing on the use of electric-powered, low-floor buses for passenger transport. However, it’s important to know what problems we try to address by applying an EV transition policy and the outcome of such a policy.
As of late 2023, UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, is in the process of developing a Policy Framework for EV Transition in Sri Lanka. As of March 2024, the latter is liaising with the president’s secretariat as well as meeting with the objective.
Key Concerns Need Addressing
- Efficient, Productive, and Sustainable Mobility
- Deteriorated public transport, ever-increasing private mode share.
- Environmental Pollution / Meeting with the Global Goals (SDG / NDC)
- Fossil fuel import cost, energy transition for both cost and quality.
- Congestion and the cost of congestion
- Not having a scrap policy.
- Mitigating health issues, prevention of NCDs
The government is yet to understand the need for a National Policy covering short-term to long-term objectives and strategies. Before highlighting the key areas of an EV transition policy, let’s look at the preliminaries. You may deep-dive via the links given if you need further analysis of the topics.
National Mobility Policy
Although the energy transition and the EV transformation need to be part of a National Transport Policy, this has not been addressed. Several agencies work on different agendas as the country has seen overthe decades. What’s happening even now is the studies and projects on different sub-sectors, sans a long-term policy framework and a strategy.
The need for a National Transport Policy has been highlighted many times. We went to the extent of proposing an outline of such, indicating the sectors that need covering.
Here are several prior posts on why a National Transport policy is needed and assessing the need of the hour.
As a part of a National Policy, there needs to be a serious consideration on Micromobility as well. Even President Gotabhaya Rajapakshe has outlined the need in his pre-campaign manifestoes.
Vehicle Needs Analysis
The average daily usage of a motor car in Sri Lanka has been reduced to a mere 22 km. Furthermore, it has been said that over 80% of local car life has been spent parked, according to the studies. Ideally, each new EV that arrives at our shores needs to replace an ICE. We know that we buy cars as a status symbol or for emergencies for several reasons, with no real need for ownership.
A comprehensive needs analysis needs to take place to avoid EVs becoming another national issue. The following link touches on the issue of the national vehicle fleet and the need.
The Economic Issue
Not only the environmental catastrophe, but the 1000 billion rupees annual fuel expenditure could be addressed comprehensively by deploying a strategy and an action plan on EV transition.
Update: Feb 2026
Threats to the energy transition and mobility shift.
Unfavorable Import Duty, Age discrimination: The whole world promotes electric mobility with lower or at least equal tariffs. Sri Lanka allows imports of up to three-year-old private cars and commercial vehicles up to 5 years of age. But the tariff is highly unfavorable for EV beyond 1 year of age, which gets doubled, unlike ICE. Needless to say, this pushes the inflow of low-standard, cheap imports as well, although new. This reduced the EV inflow, yet promoted Hybrid and ICE.
Unrealistic Motor Power: Added to the woes., Sri Lanka has increased the tariff for EV beyond 100 kW of motor power. This has led some to manipulate their motor power to meet local regulations. No good EV available below 150 kW of motor power, hence many tend to import substandard, and also, there are legal battles too on this. Government need to shift its 100 kW tariff at least to 150 kW to make the case realistic and practical. This also reduces the Electric Vehicle inflow.
EV vs ICE to Hybrid, wrong assumptions. The developed countries are imposing barriers to all types of fuel used vehicles, but Sri Lanka thinks ICE, Hybrid, and even PHEV are better for the economy and the environment. This major error has led many to buy ICE to PHEV, not knowing the global learnings and policies. It is shown that a recent PHEV 20,000 km service in Sri Lanka cost the owner a thumping amount, LKR 70,000. Academics need to educate both the government and the Public on the impact of ICE, Hybrid, and PHEV, where EVs suit better over 50% of the local motorists, financially and practically.
General myths on EV: Just one example is that many think EV s are only environmentally and economically friendly when charged by renewables only, which is wrong. Academics and Professionals need to educate the public on these. Here is a link to the major myths. https://mobility.lk/2021/11/27/ev-myths/
The Grid limitations: Even the regional charging speeds are at 100kW, and the world has over 150 kW of charging speeds. Not only that, but some countries are also going beyond 500 kW and to the MW level of charging as well. A standard battery nowadays is 60 kWh, and our grid is not capable of charging this battery in one hour, which is a pathetic situation. Allowing a 100 Amp connection without a dedicated transformer is a must as the CEB transformer cost will not make DC charging sustainable.
Unfavorable tariff: It’s a must to promote DC charging during the Day where Solar penetration is high. PUCSL to take action in making the day tariff in par with industrial and Hotel rates at least.
Limitations to new Solar connections: This issue is too widely linked to the above. The need to be a major push towards Rooftop and mega projects.
Unfavorable battery storage tariff, which doesn’t make a business case for the kWh-level investor.
Mobility Policy: No plans or even policy-based discussion in making public transportation (Buses and Trains) Electric. Sad to say, we don’t have an active National Mobility Policy either.
There are some of the key areas that already curtailed the shift to electric mobility. Even in the EV charging infrastructure trade, none talks of increasing the UIO, units in operation, and usage. All wants a better share only. Sustainability is questionable!
This is a fantastic article! Thanks!