Dec 09, Colombo: Adding another power source to the national grid, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremonially opened the newly constructed Kerawalapitiya Thermal Power Plant this morning.

The 200 megawatt power plant, built at a cost of US$ 300 million, will expand production to 300 megawatts within a year. The price of a unit of electricity produced by this plant is estimated to be Rs. 20. Electricity demand in Sri Lanka is growing at 8% annually and the Ceylon Electricity Board hopes to meet this demand with the assistance of the Kerawalapitiya Power Plant. President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the "Yugadanavi" Combined Cycle Power Plant at Kerawalapitiya, Wattala, on December 9. Minister of Power and Energy John Seneviratne, Minister of Power (non-Cabinet) Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy M.M.C. Ferdinando, and the Chief Executive Officer of West Coast Power Pvt Ltd U.D. Jayawardene attended the occasion. The President inspected the sea water purifying plant in connection with the power plant. Project Manager Dammika Nanayakkara explained the project plan. Minister Seneviratne is also pictured.

(Pix: Chandana Perera)