Lights for the North, aim of Power Ministry - Minister Ranawaka

By Mohammed Naalir

The Government has allocated Rs. 5,739.5 million for electricity projects to be initiated, Ministry sources said. The Power and Energy Ministry envisages to complete the electricity needs of the country. Ministry sources said that over 92 percent of the people in Sri Lanka have electricity. The rest of the people will be provided with electricity soon. Plans are afoot to provide electricity to over 300,000 houses before the end of this year. Over 3,697 projects have been implemented jointly with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) with a view to achieve this goal.

“Our aim is to provide electricity to all villages before the end of this year”, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Minister Ranawaka addressed the public after opening the centre. He said that a furnace oil power station with a 25 Mw capacity will be set up in Jaffna during the first quarter of 2013.

Various projects have been implemented under the guidance of Power and Energy Ministry. The electricity projects being implemented at provincial level are being supervised and proper guidelines are being given from time to time so that all projects will be completed on schedule. After the elimination of the LTTE we have received an opportunity to illuminate residences in the North and the East, the Ministry said. Plans are under way to implement projects in the North and East and fulfill the vision of the Mahinda Chinthana national development paradigm. The CEB has provided electricity to conflict-affected areas such as Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Jaffna districts.

Parallel to the 64th Independence Day celebrations several electrification projects have been initiated in many districts.

The Ministry under the guidance of Minister Ranawaka is working round the clock to fulfill the country's electricity demand. To achieve this task many projects have been initiated under the guidance and supervision of the Minister. He also constantly monitors the progress of various projects. It inaugurated electricity supply projects in the eight provinces excluding the North. However, our vision was to illuminate the Northern province. The end of terrorism paved the way to implement various electricity projects in the province.

The people in the Vavuniya district thanked Minister Ranawaka for illuminating their houses after nearly three decades.

With the intention of providing electricity to all households in the North, the Power Ministry commenced an inspection tour in the province from beginning with the Mannar district, an officer attached to the Ministry said.

He also held discussions with the district authorities in the region with a view to supplying electricity to region in accordance with the increasing demand and to provide infrastructure facilities for future development projects. He also pledged to provide the Mannar district with an electrical engineer's office. With the establishment of the electrical engineer's office it will enhance the process of providing those who have still not received electricity connections. The Minister paid homage at the Sri Swarna Bimbarama temple in the Shanthipuram area which was built in 1819.

He commissioned Kayankulam electrification project which was constructed at a cost of Rs. 12 million. Over 48 families in the Kayankulam area in the Vavuniya district will benefit. The commanding officer of the 56th brigade, Brigadier N.A.P.C. Mapagoda also participated in this tour. Power Ministry sources said that electricity coverage in the Vavuniya district is 75 percent at present.

With a view to increasing it to 100 percent, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka inaugurated the Kalmadu electricity project at a cost of Rs. 20 million, Eshwaripuram project at a cost Rs. 9.8 million and Nampankulam project at a cost of Rs. 09 million. Over 520 families in these areas will benefit once the ongoing project is over.Minister Ranawaka said that around 4,000 applications have been received so far for new electricity connections.

CEB officers have been instructed to provide these connections as soon as possible, Ministry sources said.Minister Ranawaka during his inspection tour to Mannar and the Vavuniya districts, also visited consumer centres and held cordial discussion with employees in relation to their well-being. After a lapse of over 20 years the electricity network in the North has been extended and strengthened.

On the directive of Minister Ranawaka the transmission network of 33,000 kilo volts were connected from Paranthan to Palali after nearly 20 years in early February. The cost of the project was Rs. 41.6 million. Over 1,000 families in the region will benefit. Minister was the chief guest at the opening.A new consumer service centre was also opened in Mullaitivu on February 06. Around 3,500 families in the area will benefit.He said that feasibility studies are currently under way in the Northern area by the Renewable Energy Authority to set up a wind power station with the capacity of 100 MW in selected areas.

The Selvanagar electrification project built at a cost of Rs. 24.58 million was also commissioned to the people. Over 452 families in the area will benefit. The Minister said that a new grid sub station will be set up in Kilinochchi for the benefit of the people in Kilinochchi, Mannar, Paranthan, and Mullaithivu.

The Minister said that the 33,000 Kw high tension power transmission line will be renovated and connected by the end of 2013.

He said that one third of the project cost have been allocated. Two hostels will also be set up for the employees of the CEB. Rs. 3,500 million will be spent to develop the small islands around Jaffna peninsula. Minister Ranawaka attended a progress review meeting in Jaffna during his visit to the North to discuss of the progress of the projects currently under way in the Jaffna district. Mayor of Jaffna Municipal Council Yogeswari Patkunarajah, Government Agent of Jaffna Imelda Sukumar, MP Chandrakumar, and Appadurai Vinyagamoorthi were present.

Minister Ranawaka said that due to the conflict the electricity network was destroyed during 1987-1988. However the damaged network is being restored by the CEB. He said that renovation and repair works are expected to be completed by mid next year. Around 80 percent of the people in the North have electricity. It will be increased to 100 percent by the end of this year under the Uthuru Wasanthaya accelerated Northern development drive.

Finance has been allocated to the North when compared to other districts. Minister Ranawaka said that 47 transformers will be set up in Jaffna at a cost of Rs. 3,500 million covering all villages, Power and Energy Ministry said.

The Minister also laid the foundation stone for the five storied building complex of the district Deputy General Manager’s office in Jaffna. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 150 million. It is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The Chunnakam grid substation built at a cost Rs. 32.8 million will also be completed by the end of 2013. The Minister also attended a special pooja organized to invoke blessings to the CEB employees and their families. He also commissioned the Mannianthottam electricity project built at a cost of Rs. 10.22 million. Around 500 families in the area will benefit.

The Minister also provided free electricity connections to the resettled Internally Displaced Persons in the in Jaffna. The Minister paid homage at the Nallur temple.

He attended the first anniversary celebrations of the Buddhist Cultural forum. University students, lecturers, Government officials and technical officers who had completed the six month Sinhala and English diploma course were also awarded with certificates.

The Minister said that today most of the politicians are talking about Human Rights. However the politicians were responsible for disrupting the education of the children. The innocent children were forcibly separated from their parents and were brought to arm traditions.

These children were deprived not only of their education but also their very childhood. The LTTE isolated Jaffna from other parts of the country. They destroyed the electricity network in the region in 1987. The LTTE claimed a large number of lives causing many displacements.

Now the situation has changed. The economy of the country is growing at eight percent. Jaffna is experiencing a growth of 20 percent. The bond between the Buddhists and the Hindus are strengthening. We must practically implement co-existence and respect for one another and their religious beliefs. As Government we are developing the area and taking measures to provide electricity to the region and improve the infrastructure facilities. We expect that the children of the area will make use of these facilities and engage in their educational activities, contributing in the future to make Sri Lanka the wonder of Asia.