Diyajanani Floating Solar Power Station
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The Diyajanani Floating Solar Power Plant is a 5MW floating photovoltaics power station located on the Ibbankatuwa Reservoir in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Officially commissioned on 18 September 2026, the facility is owned and operated by Diyajanani (Pvt) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the renewable energy company WindForce PLC.[1]
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| Coordinates | 7°51′49″N 80°37′31″E |
| Status | Operational |
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Background and construction
The floating solar plant covers an area of approximately 4.2 ha (10.5 acres) on the surface of the Ibbankatuwa Reservoir.[2] The power purchase agreement was signed on 28 November 2025, allowing the developers to supply electricity directly to the national grid.[1]
The facility was designed and constructed entirely by local engineers and technicians, creating employment for around 150 people from the surrounding community during its construction phase. The plant was officially connected to the national grid during a commissioning ceremony on 18 September 2026, which was attended by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.[2]
Operations and impact
The Diyajanani plant is expected to generate approximately 9 GWh of electricity annually, which is sufficient to power roughly 7,500 local households.[2]
By displacing the need for thermal power generation, the facility is estimated to save approximately 2.5×106 L (550,000 imp gal; 660,000 US gal) of diesel a year, reducing Sri Lanka's foreign exchange expenditure on imported fuels by approximately US$ 3 million annually. Furthermore, the transition to solar generation is expected to offset 6,440 t (6,340 long tons; 7,100 short tons) of carbon dioxide emissions each year.[2]
In conjunction with the plant's development, the operators funded several CSR initiatives in the region. These included the construction of a Dhamma hall for the local Sri Vivekarama Temple, water infrastructure projects for local schools, and financial provisions and equipment for the regional inland fishing community.[2]