Sri Lanka is in the process of setting up a high voltage submarine cable transmission link with India.

Addressing the inauguration of the Third Meeting of SAARC Energy Ministers Conference in Colombo on Thursday, Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne said the ground work had been completed and feasibility studies were already underway.

The third meeting of SAARC Energy Ministers was held with the participation of all member states, officials of the SAARC Secretariat and the Energy Centre.

The two day meeting would focus on a Regional Energy Trade Study, an Action Plan on Energy Conservation, Concept of a south Asian Energy Ring, and commercial aspects of the electricity grid implementation amongst the SAARC Member States and a concept to jointly import crude oil.

Seneviratne said that the India-Sri Lanka High Voltage Direct Current Link (HDVCL) would open the doors to SAARC countries to engage in cross border energy trade.

"As much as governments can do to increase energy access and ensuring secure sustainable supplies at reasonable prices, it is also equally important to educate the people on energy conservation and energy efficiency", Seneviratne said.

The minister said that this would have a greater impact on general households, power generation requirements, industries, transport, buildings and agriculture.

The SAARC region had an enormous potential both in terms of human resources and economic ability. "If this could be tapped collectively, it will enable us as a region to uplift the living standards of our people," he said.

Seneviratne said that he was confident that valuable recommendations made by senior officials on crucial issues related to energy would be recognized, accepted and further developed.