A practical buyer's guide by NativeWay's power engineers (84 years of generator installations and service across Sri Lanka), comparing the brands actually delivered today — Teksan, FMTU, NativeMax, Cummins, Perkins, Mitsubishi — with kVA sizing for hotels, factories and homes, indicative 2026 prices, and what to ask before you sign.
Generator quality breaks down into three layers: engine (the prime mover), alternator (electricity-generating part), and controller. A generator brand is usually a "packager" that combines parts from specialist makers. Knowing this matters for service, parts and lifetime cost in Sri Lanka.
| Brand | Best for | Strengths | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teksan | Commercial / industrial 10–2,500 kVA | Turkish packaging quality, choice of Cummins / Perkins / Baudouin / Mitsubishi engines, sole distribution at NativeWay (single source for parts & service) | Brand awareness lower than Cummins outside MEP circles |
| Force MTU (Rolls-Royce) | Mission-critical >500 kVA — hospitals, data centres, large hotels | Engineering benchmark, lowest fuel consumption per kWh, exclusive at NativeWay in SL, used by Sobadhanavi 350 MW LNG plant | Premium pricing; specialised application |
| NativeMax | Value-segment 1–20 kVA | NativeWay house-brand, in stock, same-day dispatch, 12 models from 0.9 to 18 kW, local spares for life | Best for residential / light commercial duty |
| Cummins | Industrial 50–3,000 kVA | Most widely known engine brand globally, deep service network | Premium parts cost; full Cummins package commands top-tier pricing |
| Perkins | Industrial 20–2,500 kVA | Excellent fuel economy, proven in Sri Lankan climate, used widely in Teksan packages | Parts lead-time can stretch for non-current models |
| Mitsubishi | Mid & large industrial | Long engine life, Japanese reliability culture, widely deployed in SL hospitals | Higher price; specialised dealer network |
| Caterpillar | Heavy industrial >1 MW | Premium brand, strong global service | Highest price tier; service primarily through CAT dealers only |
| Yanmar / Kubota | Marine, agricultural, portable up to 20 kVA | Compact, robust diesel, low fuel use | Smaller-set range only; not for industrial standby above 30 kVA |
NativeWay's call: For most commercial and industrial Sri Lankan applications below 500 kVA, Teksan offers the best engineering-to-price ratio with consolidated single-source service. Above 500 kVA mission-critical, FMTU. For value residential and light commercial, NativeMax with NativeMax Mini portable range in stock at the Colombo warehouse.
Wrong-sizing is the #1 cause of premature generator failure in Sri Lanka. Oversized sets glaze the cylinders (low load = incomplete combustion = wet stacking). Undersized sets brownout and damage themselves and connected equipment.
Sum your continuous loads in kW, multiply by 1.25 for motor starting surge, divide by 0.8 for power factor. That's your minimum kVA.
| Load type | Running (kW) | Starting surge (kVA) |
|---|---|---|
| 12,000 BTU AC (1.5 ton) | 1.5 | 4.5 |
| 18,000 BTU AC (2 ton) | 2.0 | 6.0 |
| Refrigerator (domestic) | 0.3 | 1.5 |
| Microwave / electric oven | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| LED lighting (per 10 lamps) | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Water pump 1 HP | 0.75 | 3.5 |
| 3-phase factory motor 10 HP | 7.5 | 30+ |
| Lift / elevator (residential) | 5–15 | 30–75 |
| Hotel kitchen (full) | 30–60 | 50–80 |
| Building / use | Typical kVA need |
|---|---|
| Small home, 2-3 AC + essentials | 5–10 kVA |
| Large home, 4-5 AC + pump + appliances | 10–15 kVA |
| Luxury villa, all loads on standby | 20–30 kVA |
| Small office (10–20 staff) | 15–30 kVA |
| Retail shop / showroom | 15–40 kVA |
| 50-room boutique hotel (60% essentials) | 100–150 kVA |
| 100-room hotel (full backup) | 250–400 kVA |
| Small factory (100 staff) | 200–400 kVA |
| Hospital ward block (life-safety + critical) | 250–750 kVA |
| RMG factory (Bangladesh / SL EPZ) | 500–1,500 kVA |
| Data centre (3N) | 750–2,000+ kVA |
Use the calculator. For projects above 50 kVA, rules of thumb miss too much. NativeWay's generator sizing calculator walks through load schedule, simultaneity factors, motor starts and altitude / temperature derating — the same method our engineers use for hotel and factory briefs.
Almost always diesel. Petrol generators have one role: ultra-portable, occasional use below 5 kW. For everything else, diesel wins.
| Factor | Diesel | Petrol |
|---|---|---|
| Engine life (hours) | 15,000–25,000 | 3,000–5,000 |
| Fuel cost per kWh | Lower (30–40%) | Higher |
| Fire / explosion risk | Lower flashpoint margin — safer | Higher — petrol vapour ignites at lower temps |
| Maintenance interval | 500–1,000 hrs | 50–100 hrs |
| Best for | Standby, prime-power, >5 kW | Portable, <5 kW, occasional |
| Sri Lankan fuel availability | Excellent — nationwide | Excellent |
| Noise (at same kW) | Higher — needs silent canopy | Lower |
If your duty is > 2 hours per day, choose diesel. NativeWay's NativeMax Mini range covers both petrol (open-frame portable up to 6 kW) and silent diesel (portable + standby up to 18 kW) — all in stock.
Indicative prices for brand-new, fully installed generators in 2026, including silent canopy where applicable, plus base civil and exhaust ducting. Add 10–15% for ATS panels, fuel tanks, MV/LV interconnections.
| Capacity | Portable petrol / diesel | Silent diesel standby | Industrial silent canopy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 kVA | LKR 80,000–180,000 | n/a | n/a |
| 5–7 kVA | LKR 250,000–380,000 | LKR 550,000–850,000 | n/a |
| 10–15 kVA | n/a | LKR 1.1M–1.8M | n/a |
| 20–30 kVA | n/a | n/a | LKR 2.0M–3.2M |
| 50–60 kVA | n/a | n/a | LKR 3.5M–5.2M |
| 100 kVA | n/a | n/a | LKR 5.5M–8.5M |
| 250 kVA | n/a | n/a | LKR 12M–18M |
| 500 kVA | n/a | n/a | LKR 22M–33M |
| 1,000 kVA | n/a | n/a | LKR 45M–70M |
What "installed" should include: the generator set, alternator, control panel, factory test certificate, delivery, base anchor bolts, exhaust elbow + ductwork, basic fuel piping, commissioning + load-bank test, operator handover. Watch for excluded items: ATS panels, fuel storage tank, civil works (genset room slab, soundproofing beyond canopy), MV/LV cables, transformer interconnection. NativeWay quotes the full scope to avoid surprises.
The rule: match your grid connection. If your CEB/LECO connection is single phase (230V), your generator must be single phase. If you have three-phase incoming (230/400V), your generator must be three phase.
Don't mix — running 3-phase equipment off single-phase supply (or vice versa) damages motors and triggers warranty exclusions.
Silent canopy (enclosed) is required for nearly every Sri Lankan installation near people: residential, hotels, offices, retail, hospitals. Typical canopy ratings: 65–75 dB at 7 m. Open frame (skid only) works for industrial sites with dedicated genset rooms or your own acoustic enclosure. Silent canopies add 15–25% to the genset cost but are non-negotiable for most urban and commercial sites.
The ATS is the brain that switches your load between grid and generator. Without it, you need manual changeover — useless for unattended sites. Essential for hotels, retail, hospitals, offices. Spec the ATS to match generator kVA + 25% safety margin. NativeWay supplies and commissions ATS panels for every install.
AMC is non-negotiable. Diesel generators left without scheduled service fail. Oil oxidises, fuel polymerises, batteries die, contactors corrode. NativeWay's AMC covers quarterly inspections, oil changes, fuel polishing, battery testing, ATS calibration, and emergency call-out — islandwide.
Tell us the building, the load profile, and whether it's prime-power, standby or critical. We'll size, quote, supply, install, commission and AMC — same engineers your project will deal with for the next 20 years.
