Electricity for all before 2012 end

Suraj A Bandara

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka assured that future policy plans will be directed to provide electricity to the entire country before the end of 2012.

The plans consist of short, medium term and long term objectives, Ministry sources said. Under the Didulamu Lanka program, the Government expects to supply electricity to all households by 2013.

A loan scheme was initiated to enable the electrification of houses of low income groups from July 2010. The Ministry also hopes to provide alternative power generation sources for rural households that cannot be economically connected to the National Grid before 2013. Minister Ranawaka said the plans for a fair tariff scheme would be initiated from next year with the participation of the Public Utilities Commission.

He said the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) recorded a profit in 1994. "But it changed totally and it was predicted that the CEB would record losses by 2010. During a short period after I assumed duties the losses were rapidly reduced, " Ranawaka said.

"We should find new ways to recover the losses and make the CEB a profitable institution. "Through dedication and honesty we can achieve that target," he said. CEB employees should be committed to make this target a reality, the Minister said. Sri Lanka is the only country that provide a 24 hour power supply in Asia. Nearly 87 percent of the household population are provided with electricity and the rest will be given electricity before the end of next year, he said. He said the CEB has 15,000 employees and their welfare will also be looked into in the future.

"Strikes and protests are not barriers. I am not bothered with these activities. The right thing will be implemented at the right time," he said.