Northern Province

Jaffna

Polonnaruwa

Uva Province

Kilinochchi

Western Province

Badulla

Colombo

Mannar

Monaragala

Vavuniya

Gampaha

Sabaragamuwa Province

Mullaittivu

Kalutara

Ratnapura

Eastern Province

Central Province

Batticaloa

Kegalla

Kandy

Ampara

Matale

Trincomalee

Nuwara Eliya

North Western Province

Southern Province

Kurunegala

Galle

Puttalam

Matara

North Central Province

Hambantota

Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka

Specific energy and water consumption reduced in state owned or controlled buildings by 10% by 2022, 15% by 2025 and 20% by 2030

Renewable energy to make up 20% of energy generation 2023.

Wind to take up 20% of share of energy produced by renewables by 2022.

Energy consumption will be reduced by 10% on 2015 levels by 2023.

Reduce the carbon footprint of the energy sector by 5% by 2025.

Produce the total petroleum product demand of the country through our own refinery by 2025.

Reduce the petroleum fuel use in the transport sub-sector by 5% by introducing alternative strategies such as efficient modes of transport and electrification of transport by 2020.

Reduce the technical and commercial losses of the electricity transmission and distribution network from 11% to 8% by 2020.

Increase generation capacity of low cost thermal power plants fired by natural gas and biomass to 2,000 MW to reduce the generation costs and to diversify generation mix by 2020.

Generate a minimum 1.000 MW of electricity using indigenous gas resources discovered in Mannar basin by 2020.

Increase the electricity generation capacity of the system from 4.050 MW to 6.400 MW by 2025.

Increase the share of electricity generation from renewable energy sources from 50% in 2014 to 60% by 2020 and finally to meet the total demand from renewable and other indigenous energy sources by 2030.

Reduce electricity network losses to 8%  by 2020

5% reduction of carbon footprint of energy sector by 2025 against a 2014 baseline

20% increase in renewable energy percentage of national grid, from 4.8% baseline by 2020 against a 2008 baseline

60% renewables of electricity supply by 2020, then 100% from renewable and indigenous energy sources by 2030

38% electrical energy supply from hydro and renewables by 2015

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ, a non-profit organisation in Sri Lanka) and its directors have filed a public interest petition under Articles 17 and 126 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka seeking enforcement of fundamental rights against the President of Sri Lanka and several government authorities including the Minister of Environment, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Central Environmental Authority, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, Ceylon Electricity Board, and the Minister of Transport.

The petition aims to address the Sri Lankan authorities' failure to implement effective climate change policies and protect the environment. In particular, the petitioners claim that the authorities' failure to implement and adhere to the Paris Agreement constitutes an imminent infringement and/or continuous violation and/or violation of fundamental rights through executive or administrative action.

Sri Lanka is considered highly vulnerable to climate change due to its geographic location, rich biodiversity, and unique climate patterns. The petition highlights the country’s vulnerability to rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and cyclones. These phenomena pose a threat to ecosystems, agriculture, tourism, and public health.

The petition details Sri Lanka’s growing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide from fossil fuel usage in electricity production, heat, transport, and manufacturing industries. It highlights deforestation, poor vehicle emission standards, and outdated energy policies as major contributors to observed climate change since the mid-20th century in Sri Lanka.

The petition emphasizes that climate change disproportionately affects the poor, children, and marginalized communities. It cites increased health risks, job losses due to heat stress, and threats to food and water security. The petition also references international indices and reports that rank Sri Lanka poorly in climate resilience and child vulnerability. Petitioners argue that Sri Lanka’s energy mix is overly reliant on coal and fossil fuels, with insufficient investment in solar, wind, and biomass energy sources. They criticize the lack of infrastructure for electric vehicles and the failure to implement promised renewable energy targets. Specific examples include blocked rooftop solar projects and ineffective emission testing programs.

The petition refers to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of Sri Lanka and seeks implementation of the targets in relation to renewable energy production. Sri Lanka aims to achieve 70% renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030, down from an initial target of 80%. This was also part of the President's election manifesto. However, the National Budget 2021 reduced the renewable energy target from 80% to 70% of overall energy requirements. CEJ argues that there exists a legitimate expectation to implement the election manifesto.

In this context, the petitioners claim that the Sri Lankan government has a duty to implement effective climate policies and renewable energy initiatives. The petition asserts that the government’s inaction violates several constitutional provisions, including Articles 12(1), 14(1)(g), and 14(1)(h), which guarantee equality before the law, freedom of occupation, and freedom of movement and residence. It also references international conventions and landmark Sri Lankan court cases that affirm environmental protection as a public trust and legal duty.

The petition concludes with a plea for the Supreme Court to recognize the ongoing and imminent violations of fundamental rights and to direct the respondents to take urgent steps under the National Environment Act and relevant domestic legislation. These include implementing climate policies in line with international laws, promoting renewable energy without damaging environmental services offered by the existing nature/ ecological system of the country, reforming vehicle importation standards to introduce a strategic plan to popularize the use of electric vehicles, and launching public awareness campaigns.

In 2024, the Supreme Court directed the respondents to file all the steps that the State has taken to protect the environment, especially the steps taken to mitigate climate change. The Court is set to hear arguments in March 2026.

The Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited (EFL) together with Mr. Rukshan Jayawardene who is an environmentalist and a former Director of EFL filed a Fundamental Rights Application bearing No: SC/FR/01/21 on behalf of the citizens of Sri Lanka in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. The application sought to quash the Circular No. MWFC/1/2020 dated 04/11/2020 and relevant Cabinet decisions and memorandums which handed over Other State Forests to the District and Divisional Secretaries. 

The controversial Circular No. MWFC/1/2020 had revoked Circular No. 05/2001 (amended by Circular No. 02/2006), which had previously vested the management, development and protection of all the Other State Forests with the Department of Forests. According to the mechanism provided in the Circular No. 05/2001, Other State Forests can be released for development purposes only upon such proposal being examined by the Inter-Ministerial Committee and after carrying out an Environment Assessment in terms of the National Environmental Act No.47 of 1980 as amended. 

In contrast, the Circular No. MWFC/1/2020 empowers the District and Divisional Secretaries to alienate Other State Forests by simply following the general procedure on alienating state lands and does not provide for an effective and adequate mechanism to review the environmental impacts. Such alienations of lands decrease the forest cover and cause irreparable damage to the environment and biodiversity of Sri Lanka. 

EFL's legal action highlighted the need for stronger safeguards for these forests, which, though not formally protected, play a crucial role in the country’s ecosystem. 

The proceedings of the case were terminated on 04.09.2024 since the reliefs sought by EFL were granted by way of Cabinet memorandum No. MWRFC/2023/06 and Cabinet decision dated 05.07.2023. It reinstated Circular No. 05/2001 and 02/2006 and terminated the impugned circular No. MWFC/1/2020.

Sri Lanka

Recent cases