Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2011-06-01

Strengthening of Electricity Transmission and Distribution Network Ceylon Electricity Board

- electricity generation requirement of the country will be strengthened after commissioning of the 150 MW Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Plant and 600 MW Phases II and III of the Coal Fired Power Plant at Puttlam. Further 500 MW of power will be added to the National Grid by 2018 with the commissioning of the Coal Fired Power Plant at Trincomalee. Electricity generation through out the country, including the Northern and Eastern Provinces, will be strengthened during 2011 - 2020, with funds to be provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL). Due to the urgency to reinforce the existing transmission and distribution network of the CEB to be in line with the growing electricity demand, the following projects will be implemented early with domestic funds to be provided during the years 2012, 2013 and 2014:

* installation of 100 MW Ar capacitor bank in Pannipitiya Grid Substation - cost Rs.261.6 million;
* construction of Suriyawewa 132/33 MW Grid Substation - cost Rs.1500 million;
* augmentation of Hambantota Grid Substation - cost Rs.534.3 million; and
* augmentation of Sri Jayewardenepura Grid Substation - cost Rs.507.1 million.