President on Kotmale project observation tour:

New era of progress

*Govt’s priority for development

* Power generation to be increased

Chaminda PERERA in Thalawakele

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the country is on the threshold of development due to the right decisions taken by the Government during the past five years.

He added that the Government showed no hesitation in performing its duties during the past five years.

“We were not afraid of performing our duties during the past five years and this commitment from the part of the Government has led to the benefit of common masses of the country, he added.

He stressed the Government is committed to the country’s development during the next six years.

President Rajapaksa urged the people to shed all petty political and racial differences and rally around the Government for the development of the country.

The President was speaking at the opening of the country’s longest tunnel which would carry water from the Kotmale reservoir to an underground power station under the Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project which will add 150 MWs of power to the national grid by end of next year. The total cost of the 13 km tunnel is Rs 4,000 million.

He made an open invitation to the people particulary schoolchildren to come to the project site and witness the progress being achieved by the country in the field of power generation during the next two days.

He expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan and all those who made an untiring effort in the construction of Upper Kotmale Project.

He added that the Government led by him succeeded in starting this long delayed project due to many reasons.

President Rajapaksa said the Government liberated the country from terrorism while creating the background for massive development.

The President added that the people of the country would not be kept in dark and plans are underway to increase power generation in the country.

He said the Government commenced the Norochcholai and Kerawalapitiya power stations and the people are receiving electricity round the clock.

President Rajapaksa said the many countries in the region experience power shortages and the people in such countries have to be in the dark for a few hours a day.

The President added that the Government is committed to develop the country further for the benefit of posterity.

He added that the Government will provide electricity to each and every village in the country and a number of projects are being implemented to achieve this goal.

The people can be happy over the achievement made by the country during the past five years due to the right decisions by the Government.

He said the people in Talawakele will get a new lease of life owing to this project. The President stressed that all facilities would be provided to the people in the area.

The President expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan for extending financial assistance for the project. Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Livestock Development Minister Arumugam Thondaman also spoke.