Economic leap-forward in the coming months:

Development on equal footing

Bandara Vipulasena – Vavuniya Corr

The entire country including the North and East will be developed on an equal footing under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s policy and we could expect an economic leap-forward in the coming months, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

He was associated with Economic Affairs Minister and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa at a function held to connect the new power grids of Vavuniya and Chunnakam delivering power to the North.

He said certain local and foreign elements attempted to destabilize the country after the Armed Forces defeated terrorism but Japan and other friendly nations as well as international organizations like the Asian Development Bank has consistently aided the socio-economic development and infrastructure development programs of the Government. Ranawaka said the power line and substations from Vavuniya to Kilinochchi covers a 73 kilometres distance and costs Rs.5.2 billion and we are able to supply power to the Kilinochchi District border.

The second phase of the project is the Chunnakam sub station that would enable us to supply power to Jaffna, he said.

Japanese Ambassador Kunyo Takahashi, Asian Development Bank representative Taka Asheer, Ministers Douglas Deveananda, Rishad Bathiudeen, Deputy Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama, Deputy Minister of Power Premalal Jayasekara and Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri were also present.