President to outline priority for electricity
distribution :
Make electricity affordable - President
The Power and Energy Ministry is bound to provide electricity to the
people at affordable rates and it should strive to give more prominence
to what people actually need than think about profits, said President
Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Power
and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka at the progress
review meeting. Picture by Sudath Silva |
The President was speaking at the progress review meeting of the
Power and Energy Ministry.
“Electricity is an integral part of the people’s day-to-day life and
it is an indispensable factor for the country’s development endeavour,”
the President added. He added that the Power and Energy Ministry should
carry out their duties more effectively and in a people-friendly manner.
The President said the Government drew up plans for the fulfillment
of the country’s power and energy requirements soon after it came into
power in 2005.
He said that his Government succeeded in re-starting a number of mega
power generation projects which had been abandoned by previous
governments to solve the country’s power crisis. “We should fulfil what
is expected of us by the people. The Ministry officials should take
every possible effort to fulfil what the people want regardless of their
political, racial or religious affiliations,” he added.
President Rajapaksa said the Ministry officials should play a
pioneering role in the country’s development. He said the Government
liberated the country from the clutches of terrorists and a massive
development drive is under way.
The President referring to the soaring fuel prices in the world
market said that the Government is in the process of planning a
mechanism which will help maintain fuel prices at concessionary rate.
He lauded the Ministry’s efforts in restoration of power supply in
the Eastern Province soon after it was liberated from the terrorists’
clutches. President Rajapaksa added that the Power and Energy Ministry
has faced unprecedented challenges.
He said the Ministry was able to win many such challenges due to the
dynamic leadership of Minister Ranawaka and its dedicated workforce.
Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said the Ministry
is economically stable. The CEB has become an institution which do not
record operational losses under the able leadership of Power and Energy
Minister.
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