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PUCSL Chairman Prof. K. P. L. Chandralal
Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Prof. K.P.L. Chandralal yesterday said Sri Lanka will need to produce around 5,000 qualified solar power technicians each year to support the installation of some 600 MW of solar capacity annually and remain on track to achieve its target of generating 70% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Addressing the media, he warned that the rapid expansion of the solar industry could be constrained by a shortage of professionally qualified technicians, limited training capacity and a lack of specialised solar consultants. Over 1,000 companies have obtained licences from the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) to import and install solar systems, with around 10,000 people currently employed in the sector. However, a significant proportion of the workforce does not possess recognised professional qualifications, he said. “The expansion of renewable energy must be supported by a workforce with the necessary technical skills and professional qualifications,” Prof. Chandralal said, stressing that properly trained technicians were essential for the quality and reliability of installations, electrical safety and the long-term sustainability of the sector.
To address the skills gap, the SLSEA and PUCSL have launched a program targeting the training of 5,000 solar technicians, 100 instructors and inspectors. Around 1,500 technicians have already been trained. A special program is also being implemented to enable experienced technicians to obtain NVQ Level 3 qualifications in solar technology free of charge through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system. Technicians with more than two years of industry experience will be eligible to have their existing skills formally assessed and recognised. The move to formalise the sector comes as regulations issued by the Sri Lanka Engineering Council introduce mandatory professional qualifications for solar technicians. Under the new requirements, NVQ Level 3 will be the minimum qualification for practicing as a solar energy technician from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2029. From 1 January 2030, technicians will need to hold NVQ Level 4 in Solar Energy Technology and be registered with the Sri Lanka Engineering Council as Engineering Technicians. Prof. Chandralal said the phased requirements would raise professional standards while improving the safety and quality of solar installations as the industry expands rapidly. The PUCSL Chairman also highlighted a parallel program to formalise qualifications for refrigeration, air conditioning, and vehicle air conditioning technicians. The National Ozone Unit of the Environment Ministry and PUCSL are implementing an islandwide program to provide free NVQ Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications to technicians in these fields. The Sri Lanka Engineering Council issued regulations on 7 July 2026 governing the practice of refrigeration and air conditioning technicians, mobile air conditioning technicians, and qualified technicians in these fields. As with solar technicians, NVQ Level 3 will become the minimum qualification from January 2028 through December 2029, followed by a requirement from 2030 for the relevant NVQ Level 4 qualification and registration with the Engineering Council. Prof. Chandralal said the qualification programs would allow experienced technicians to formally recognise their existing skills while strengthening technical standards, electrical safety, and Sri Lanka’s environmental protection commitments.
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