Electricity for all by next year - minister

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

the Power and Energy Ministry has taken measures to light up every Sri Lankan household by 2012 according to the Mahinda Chinthana - Future Vision, said Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa focused special attention on the electricity sector through Mahinda Chinthana with the aim of lighting the whole of Sri Lanka, he said while issuing a congratulatory message for President Mahinda Rajapaksa's first anniversary of the second term of assuming office as Sri Lanka's fifth executive.

"In accordance with Mahinda Chinthana, the government has set a target to provide all households with electricity by 2012 while allocating billions of rupees in funds for the development of the sector.

"However, over 84 percent of the households in the country have already been supplied with electricity through mega power projects that have been implemented under a long-term infrastructure development plan.

"As a result of that, the first phase of Lakwijaya coal power plant was inaugurated under the patronage of the President adding 300 mw to the National Grid on March 22, 2011. The first solar power plant in Sri Lanka which is built in Buruthakanda will add another 500 kws to the National Grid as well. In addition to that the Upper-Kothmale hydro power plant which was inaugurated in 2006 will also add 150 mw to the electricity grid before the end of this year."

The minister said that electricity tariff in the country is high. "Our aim is to control and bring down the high electricity tariff to an affordable amount while providing every household with electricity," minister Ranawaka noted.