Lanka fulfils 94% of population’s electricity needs: Champika

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday said Sri Lanka had been able to fulfill the Electricity requirements of 94% of the population despite the 15 months long drought and high cost of fuel for thermal power generation in 2012, while all other countries in the region experienced continuous power cuts and tariff hikes.

“Not only were we able to provide 24-hour uninterrupted power supply round the year but introduced a relief scheme for domestic consumers who utilised less than 90 units granting them a concession worth Rs. 37.4 billion. In addition, religious institutions were granted Rs. 688 million as electricity concessions,” Minister Ranawaka stressed.

Industries were granted an electricity concession amounting to Rs. 23 billion.

The Jaffna peninsula was reconnected to the national grid after a lapse of 25 years.

Under the ‘Vidulamu Lanka programme,’ the new electricity connections amounted to 227,913. Under the ‘Viduli Athwela’ initiative 39,436 low income families were granted Rs. 747 million as loan concessions, he said.

With the aim of improving the efficiency of the older power stations, renovations were carried out at the Uku-

Not only were we able to provide 24-hour uninterrupted power supply round the year but introduced a relief scheme for domestic consumers who utilised less than 90 units granting them a concession worth Rs. 37.4 billion

wela, Wimalasurendra, New Laxapana, and Old Laxapana power stations. There was a capacity boost of 118.3 MW.s through this scheme.

With the aim of improving the efficiency and stability of the electricity of the Jaffna peninsula a 24 MW Heavy Fuel power station was established and the process of closing down the high cost power stations was initiated, Minister Ranawaka added.

The Colombo city power network was upgraded to an underground power transmission network, complete with automatic controls at a cost of Rs. 11 billion with the objective of uninterrupted power supply to the country’s main industrial zones.