Hydropower development in Sri Lanka: present and future

This article highlights Sri Lanka’s extensive experience of hydropower development, since the early use of micro hydro schemes to power the tea estates, through to the large-scale cascade developments on the major river systems of the country, such as Mahaweli. Today hydro is the most important renewable energy source for the island, playing a major role in meeting increasing demand. The author discusses future plans for new schemes and upgrading projects, and the possible development of pumped storage.