108,000 houses to get electricity before New Year celebrations:Dullas

There is an ongoing regional level survey till February 10. Low-income families will receive interest-free loans for house wiring through the Samurdhi banks. 

By Krish Jeewaka Jayaruk

Minister of Power- Dullas Alahapperuma said that electricity will be given to one hundred eight thousand houses before this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year.   

He was addressing the meeting held in the Matara District Secretariat Auditorium with the participation of Ceylon Electricity Board officials and public representatives to solve issues regarding electricity in the Matara District.   
Heads of Local Authorities including the Matara Municipal Council Mayor- Ranjith Yasarathna presented in writing issues and proposals regarding electricity in their respective areas. 

 
They were also given opportunity to comment on their reports. 

 
Addressing the meeting, the Minister said that he had already initiated the mission to electrify all the houses in the country before the New Year on the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. “There is an ongoing regional level survey till February 10. Low-income families will receive interest-free loans for house wiring through the Samurdhi banks. We will be providing electricity to one hundred eight thousand houses free of charge. We have identified 1,607 houses in Matara that have no electricity,” he added.   
“We also expect to transform the bio-gas project in Kotawila waste management project in Matara of which the operations have been halted since 2014, to a plant, generating electricity and to launch its operations from 01 October. Other than the 40 tons of garbage collected daily in areas in Matara MC limits, we will also collect garbage from eight Pradesha Sabhas including Weligama, Dewinuwara and Malimbada to increase the capacity of the plant. Garbage issue in the Matara District will be largely solved through that,” he said.   

The Minister said that the Ceylon Electricity Board had been rapidly transformed with new technology and provided quick customer service than ever before. Through the new application introduced by the CEB, people can inform of power failures quickly. Those messages would be communicated among senior officials providing an efficient service to customers.   

State Minister of Fishery Harbour Development- Kanchana Wijesekara also made his comments in the meeting.   
Many officials including the Additional Secretary (Policy, Research and Distribution) Dr. M. N. Susantha Perera, Assistant General Manager Rohan Senevirathna, Director (Thermal, Transmission and Distribution), , K. L. R. C. Wijesinghe of the Ministry of Power and Director (Development) of the State Ministry of Solar, Wind and Hydro Power Generation Projects Development J. G. L. A. S. Wijesinghe participated in the event.