Govt. succeeds in supplying electricity to 99.7% of households

The Government has succeeded in providing electricity connections to 99.7% of households in Sri Lanka, the Power and Renewable Energy Deputy Minister told Parliament yesterday.

According to Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera, the Government was able to reach the target with the launch of its Ratama Eliyai Andura Duralai national program in January last year.

“We found various issues which prevented people getting electricity connections. A lack of finances was the main factor which we addressed by providing a credit facility up to Rs. 45,000, which was to be repaid within a six-year period. We are looking at covering the remainder and to provide electricity to the entire nation,” he said.

The Ratama Eliyai Andura Duralai national program was an investment of Rs. 6,617 million from the Ceylon Electricity Board and Rs. 71.9 million investment from Lanka Electricity Ltd.

Addressing the reasons for sudden power failures in certain parts of the island, the Deputy Minister stated that the Lakvijaya Power Station in Norochcholai was not up to requisite standards and power generation was not at expected levels. 

“We are mainly dependent on Norochcholai for our power requirements. Power failures are mainly due to one generator which is not fully operational. The other two generators are also partially operational. We will be taking measures to repair these generators. This is a result of purchasing a low-quality power plant,” he added. (AH)