Abstract:
Sri Lanka is predominantly a fossil fuel importing country with relatively high rainfall
mainly in the central hilly region. This factor has led to the heavy dependence on hydropower
to satisfy its power generation needs during the past century. Presently this
hydropower dominated Sri Lankan power system is moving towards thermal system
domination. This is due to the limitation of economic hydro-power resources and the fact
that a major component of these economic resources has already been exploited. Further
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), institution responsible for generation planning, considers
only candidate thermal options together with four candidate hydropower options when
preparing the base case expansion plan. Long-term least-cost power generation expansion
plan has therefore given rise to the installation of oil-fired and coal-fired thermal plants to
meet the increasing demand of the country [1].
