In a study conducted by Prof. Ivan Silva into 145 mini hydro power plants that operate in Sri Lanka it was revealed that another 73 licenses had been issued.

Under President Maithripala Sirisena:

Meanwhile Central Environmental Authority Chairman had told a newspaper on 7 August 2016 that there was no more potential for mini hydro power plants to be built in the country.

Even the case may be as such, Yahapalana regime more licenses had been issued especially the 100 day programme. It was revealed a majority licenses had been issued despite heavy opposition from the public and environmentalists due to the involvement of influential politicians of both the current and previous regimes.

Construction of many mini hydro power plants is underway in environmentally-sensitive areas such as Sinharaja, Mandaram Nuwara, Dellawa and in Ratnapura, Kegalle, Matara districts, threatening the survival of many endemic fish, flora and fauna along with hypersensitive ecosystems in those areas.

Many environmentalists are alarmed that these have taken place when the Environemntal Ministry is under the purview of President Maithripala Sirisena.