“Sri Lanka Has the Resources—Now It Needs Urgent Action”: ISA Chief Ashish Khanna

It Needs Urgent Action”: ISA Chief Ashish Khanna

- By IrnaM Nizam

Sri Lanka has everything it needs—sun, wind, and water. What it now needs is urgency, clarity, and ambition,” declared Ashish Khanna, the newly appointed Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), during his first official visit to Sri Lanka. In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Island, Khanna outlined a practical roadmap for how Sri Lanka can transition into a global clean energy success story—if the right systems are put in place without delay.

Khanna, who took office in March 2025, brings with him over 27 years of experience in energy policy and development—including two decades at the World Bank. With a footprint across 25 countries, his deep insight into both infrastructure and institutional development sets the tone for the ISA’s next chapter.

The 7th Regional Committee Meeting of the ISA's Asia-Pacific arm, hosted in Colombo this week, marked Khanna’s first regional mission as Director General—and Sri Lanka was not chosen by chance.

Q: You’ve just chaired your first Asia-Pacific regional meeting here in Colombo. Why was Sri Lanka selected as a priority country for your visit?

Khanna: First, let me say how honoured I am to be in Sri Lanka. This is my first time here, and I’ve been overwhelmed by the hospitality and sincerity of everyone I've met. The reason Sri Lanka was chosen is very clear—it has enormous untapped potential in renewable energy.

Sri Lanka has already achieved almost universal energy access. That alone is a remarkable achievement, especially when I compare it with regions like Sub-Saharan Africa where 50% of the population still lacks access to electricity. What makes Sri Lanka especially interesting is the quality of its energy mix—already renewables-heavy, particularly hydro. But there’s a huge opportunity now to leap ahead with solar and wind, both of which are abundant here.