Country's four major projects ready:

Cheaper electricity by 2018

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratna assured that over four million electricity consumers in the country will be provided electricity at very cheap rates by 2018 with the commissioning of the country's four major power projects at Norochcholai, Upper Kotmale, Kerawalapitiya and Trincomalee.

The Minister was speaking at the traditional `Roofing Ceremony', conducted by the Chinese constructors at the Norochcholai Coal Power Project site, last week.

The ceremony was attended by a 30-member Chinese Buddhist delegation and 25 Bhikkus from Malwatta, Asgiriya, Amarapura and Ramanna Chapters.

In addition, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and Religious Affairs Minister Pandu Bandaranayake, several Chinese political leaders and diplomatic officials from both countries also attended the `Roofing Ceremony'.

Minister Seneviratne said the first phase of this Chinese Government funded Norochcholai Coal Power Project which is constructed at a cost of 455 million US dollars will add 300 MW to the national grid and the commissioning of the project will be in March next year.

He said the second and third phases of the Coal Power project will be completed by 2013 and thereafter an additional 600 MW will be added to the national grid.

The Minister said the main construction work of the phase one will be completed before the end of this year and the CEB is expected to generate 300 MW and another 600 MW will also be generated from the second and third phases which will be completed by 2013.

According to Minister Seneviratne Sri Lanka's second coal power plant which has the capacity to generate 1,000 MW will be constructed in Trincomalee before the end of this year.

Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa said that generating more electricity is essential at this juncture since the Government has many plans to develop the agricultural, fisheries, industrial and other sectors, especially after finishing the three decade old war.

Addressing the media after the ceremony, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Media Secretary Harsha Abayakoon said that 75 per cent of the first phase of this mega project has now been completed.

He also recalled the objections raised by residents in the Norochcholai and Upper Kotamale areas, but the CEB was able to handle it in a proper manner.

A nearly 1,400 Chinese workforce including engineers, helpers, welders and fitters are working round the clock at the site, while about 400 Sri Lankan labourers and nearly 10 engineers also assist the Chinese workforce. Planting a Bo-Sapling, brought from Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura and the installation of a replica of Buddha Statue from the Shaolin Temple in China also took place to coincide with the ceremony.