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It is not possible to delay the development process
because of the many obstacles one may find on the way
to development. Implementing the projects essential
for development cannot be put off for another day, said
President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (Aug 06) after observing
the progress made so far on the Norochcholai Thermal
Power Project.
The President said that while the government has initialed
a large-scale development programme for the East, it
was necessary to restore peace to begin development
work in the North.
He added that had construction work on the Norochcholai
Power Project begun on time, work on it would have been
completed by now. This important development project
had been delayed by nearly 15 years for a variety of
reasons, and it was the people who had suffered as a
result. Norochcholai is an asset of the people, he said.
At a time when the price of oil was rising daily in
the international markets, the government faced losses
in supplying fuel to the CEB at subsidized rates, in
order to relieve the people of the burden of high electricity
charges. As a result of the Norochcholai Power Project
the cost of electricity could be brought down in the
future, the President said.
He also said that cheaper electricity would help in
bringing down the cost of living in the future, and
expressed satisfaction at the Government’s ability
to initiate work on three power projects at Kotmale,
Kerawalapitiya and Norochcholai.
The President expressed his gratitude to the Government
of China for the assistance given for this project.
The Norochcholai Thermal Power Project which will have
a capacity of 900 MW will be able to supply 300 MW to
the national power grid by 2011. Its entire capacity
would be added to the national grid by 2015.
The construction of this power plant is being done under
long-term assistance from China, which is providing
assistance amounting to US$ 455 million for this project,
making this a significant example of Sri Lankan- Chinese
Friendship.
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