First solar power project to be commissioned

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Sri Lanka's first ever solar power electrification scheme constructed with a Rs. 24 million grant from the Indian Government will be commissioned on Tuesday at Galgamuwa, Madulla in the Moneragala district.

Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne will inaugurate the electrification scheme while India's High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Alok Prasad will attend the ceremony on behalf of the Indian Government.

Three-hundred houses of low income families will get electricity under this electrification project, while solar power equipment will also be installed at agricultural centres, schools, health and community centres in the district.

Minister Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer that high quality durable solar power equipment worth Rs. 80,000 was installed in each household under the scheme.

He said 95 percent families in the country use hydropower or thermal power generated electricity and only 5 percent have so far not benefited.

"Therefore, the Ceylon Electricity Board has decided to launch more solar power projects in remote villages in the near future," he said.