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New light to remote villages

Message issued by Karu Jayasuriya, Minister of Power and Energy on the occasion of the handing over of three rural electrification schemes in the Nikaweratiya electorate to the beneficiaries on November 12.

It is indeed a pleasure to be able to place on record this occasion when electricity supply will be made available to several villages in the Nikaweratiya electorate. Supply of electricity to a village is an important juncture in the history of the village. Electricity will not only bring 'light' to the village, it will also bring within their reach benefits of modern civilisation like television. Education of the children will receive an impetus with electricity supply.

Electricity can also be used to bring about a change in the rural economy. Several rural industries can be launched with the help of electricity. These industries can serve as a commendable solution to the problem of unemployment among the rural youth. Only by harnessing the multiple uses of electricity the expectations of the village people could be fully realised.

It is well-known that there was a major crisis in the energy sector when the present government assumed office eleven months back. Day to day living was disrupted, industrial production declined and the economy was adversely affected. In fact there were three major problems to be tackled when our government assumed office. The war was our first concern. The second was the economy that was falling apart.

The third was the energy crisis. We have taken very effective measures to resolve the energy crisis. As a result we have not only been able to solve the energy issue within a short period of 150 days, we have also been able to strengthen the energy sector to ensure that the country will not experience such a crisis in the future.

The use of electricity should not be confined to the affluent few. Electricity in our country is the common property of all the people. It is therefore incumbent on us to ensure that electricity brings new 'light' to the remote villages and with it pave the way for an upsurge in rural industries.

At present only 59 per cent of our population have access to electricity. We plan to increase this figure to 80 per cent during the period of the present government in office. In striving to achieve this target we have been encouraged by the fact that Asian Development Bank, World Bank, China, Sweden and Kuwait have pledged to help us.

An end to the war and the dawn of a new era of peace is not far away. Due to the farsighted dedicated leadership of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the 20-year war will come to a close and we will be able to live in a country where peace and harmony will prevail.

In the forward march of our country, your contribution will be invaluable. The benefits conferred by the supply of electricity will undoutedly strengthen your capacity to be of service to your country.

I take this opportunity to offer my best wishes to the people of Nikaweratiya electorate entering a new era with the supply of electricity for their use. I also thank Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Industries and the staff of the Ceylon Electricity Board for their relentless efforts in making this undertaking a success.

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