Aug 20, Colombo: The All Religion Collective Against Coal Power Plant appealed to God to stop the construction of the power plant in Norochcholai in the Western Province of Sri Lanka.

The people’s action was held in Narakkalliya Church on August 18, 2 PM. Thousands of people participated in the peaceful protest amid tight security provided by police. The residents said police removed the black flags hoisted by them in protest of the coal power plant.

The All Religion Collective Against Coal Power Plant say that the side effects of burning coal to generate electricity harm all the life in the Kalpitiya peninsula as well as the whole country and resettling 82 families who were living in the site chosen for the plant would not solve all the problems. The Collective is also apprehensive about the high security zone to be set up in the area.

The construction work of the Norochcholai coal power plant was officially commenced on August 08. President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended an observation tour at the construction site prior to that on August 06.

Sri Lanka government has decided to obtain a credit of US$ 500 million from international banks at a higher interest rate and the projects that are to be funded through the credit included the preliminary work of the Norochcholai coal power plant.

The President also said that the government has taken steps to provide fuel to the Ceylon Electricity Board at a subsidized price to keep the electricity tariff low. He also expressed hopes to reduce the electricity tariff when the Norochcholai coal power plant would commence generation.

CMEC Company of China is the contractor for the construction and the Exim Bank of China provides a loan of US $ 450 million for the project.

The plant is expected to commence operations by 2009 and will generate 300 MW of energy in the first stage.