Electricity for all in 2012 - minister

Ridma Dissanayake

The Power and Energy Ministry has taken measures to provide electricity to 224,000 families in collaboration with the Ceylon Electricity Board and they are to provide electricity for another 300,000 families by next year. In addition to this all measures are in place to provide electricity to 60,000 families under the Grama Shakthi programme, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Accordingly all measures are in place to light up every Sri Lankan household by 2012 and make Sri Lanka a country which has a 24 hour electricity supply. The ministry has allocated a large sum of money for several projects and programmes to make this endeavour a success, he added.

The minister was addressing launch of the 'Vidulamu Lanka, a quarterly publication, at the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) yesterday.

This newsletter is published by the Power and Energy Ministry in collaboration with ANCL.

"We have saved around Rs.15,000 million in 2010 and we have saved over Rs.8,000 million this year after facing the worst drought in the Sri Lanka's history. Besides we have invested over Rs. 400 million on several electricity projects."

"We received over 37,000 e-mails in the first six months. All measures are in place to introduce smart meters to the public to bring efficiency into our customer service and we have introduced three hot lines for the public to contact Power and Energy Ministry,Ceylon Electricity Board and Lanka Electricity Company (LECO). Those numbers have received over 200,000 calls in the first six months," the minister said.

Minister Ranawaka noted that the public can contact the ministry on 1901,the CEB 1987 and LECO 1910.

He said certain elements were trying to create a conflict situation by making false statements but ministries such as Power and Energy, and Education cannot make huge profits. "This is because ours is a public welfare service."

The minister stated that Lake House has given a great support in the power and energy field to inform the public about their new projects and programmes while publishing the Vidulamu Lanka newsletter and this will help to further communicate with the public. ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara presented the first copy of 'Vidulamu Lanka' to Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

ANCL Editorial Director Seelaratne Senarath and Dinamina Editor Mahinda Abeysundara also spoke.