Somawathiya to get electricity on Poson

Wasantha Ramanayake

COLOMBO: Somawathiya Temple Electrification Project will be commissioned on the Poson Poya day (30) by Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Senevirathne and the Agricultural and Agrarian Services Development Minister Maithreepala Sirisena, project coordinating officer Harsha B. Abeykoon said.

The project was commenced at the temple premises under the auspices of Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Senevirathne, on October 30, last year.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had directed the Minister to expedite the work the Coordinating Officer said. Five Million rupees out of the total estimated cost of 18 million would be provided by the President’s Fund, he said.

The 13 km stretch of the power supply line was constructed from Sungawila in Lankapura Divisional Secretariat to the temple through thick jungle.

The Ceylon Electricity Board had raised five million rupees for the initial work. The Power and Energy Ministry had also granted five million rupees while Lanka Electricity Company Ltd. and the Lanka Transformers Ltd. had contributed 2.5 million and two million rupees respectively under the directive of Minister Senevirathne.

Although many politicians earlier pledged to supply electricity to the temple the project did not become a reality, he said.

A committee had been appointed to supervise the progress of the project headed by Deputy Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and temple’s chief incumbent.

The rest of the members included former CEB Chairman Chula Delgoda, Additional General Manager Badhra Jayaweera, Deputy General Manager (Anuradhapura), CEB working Director B. A. Galwatte, LECO Chairman Champani Padmasekera and Lakdhanavi Chairman U. D. Jayawardane, Media Secretary to the Minister Harsha B. Abeykoon and Coordinating Secretary Priyantha Samarasinghe.