On Sunday, Colombo reported that Sri Lanka has begun construction of a 26‑km, 220‑kV double‑circuit transmission line that will link a new 100‑MW wind farm on the Mannar Island to the national grid.
According to Xinhua, the transmission project is estimated to cost 2.5 billion Sri Lankan rupees, roughly $7.5 million, and will run from the Mannar 220/33‑kV substation to the proposed Mullikulam 220‑kV metering substation.
Xinhua highlighted that the Department of Government Information says the line will help transmit electricity from the wind farm to the national grid while improving the country’s power system stability and facilitating further renewable energy integration.
eLanka also reported the start of the same domestically funded grid project, noting the identical cost of 2.5 billion rupees and the connection point between the Mannar and Mullikulam substations.
While Xinhua focused on the broader objective of grid stability, eLanka emphasized the project’s domestic financing as a key milestone for Sri Lanka’s energy strategy.
Both outlets agree that the line will carry power from a 100‑MW wind farm located on the southern island of Mannar, a site chosen for its favorable wind resources.
The 220‑kV double‑circuit design is intended to provide redundancy and reduce transmission losses, a detail mentioned by both Xinhua and eLanka without further elaboration.
Neither source provides a construction schedule, but the announcement indicates that work has already commenced, suggesting an urgency to bring the wind farm online.
Both Xinhua and eLanka lack direct quotes from government officials; instead they refer to statements from the Department of Government Information, underscoring the project’s role in stabilizing the grid.
By launching a locally funded transmission line, Sri Lanka signals a shift toward self‑sufficient renewable infrastructure, a narrative echoed by both Xinhua and eLanka in their reporting.