President launches program to electrify rural Sri Lanka

Thursday, 9 April 2015 01:44 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Maithripala Sirisena launches the Soorya Mangallaya Aluth Avurudhu Eliya program at his office President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday launched a rural electrification program to provide electricity to 12,850 families in rural areas of the country. The ‘Soorya Mangallaya Aluth Avurudhu Eliya’ program was symbolically launched under the patronage of President Sirisena today at the President’s Office. The program, implemented under the ‘Vindulamu Lanka’ rural electrification scheme, seeks to provide electricity to the families before the New Year. The enforcement of 758 Rural Electrification Schemes and Power Extensions, for which work has been completed in each district, symbolically took place today at the President’s Office. The Government has spent Rs. 1.975 billion on the program. Speaking at the event, the President noted that the supply of power to the village was a massive investment made on the behalf of the future generation. “The real objective of development should be to bridge the gap between the town and the village. With the provision of electricity to villagers and with rural children receiving new technology, the village communities will have the opportunity to win over the world,” the President commented. The President added said that that the aim of the development programs of the present Government was to eliminate the poverty of rural residents and provide them with the facilities presently being enjoyed by people in urban areas. Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Secretary to the President P.B. Abeykoon and Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy B.M.S. Batagoda were among those present at the occasion.