The final stage of Kerawalapitiya Combined Cycle Thermal Power Plant which is to provide an additional 100 mega watts of power to the national grid was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (Feb. 25).

The total cost of the project is US $ 308 million, part of which was raised from local sources - ETF, LECO and Lakdanavi Ltd with 152 million Euros lent by foreign lending institutions.

The first phase added 200 mega watts of power to the national grid. The combined capacity of the facility will now provide 300 mw of electricity to the national grid.

The Kerawalapitiya Power Plant constructed in the marshy land bordering the Hamilton Canal was completed within a record time span of two years. The power plant is also testimony to the skills and expertise of local engineers who completed the project, Daily News reported.

The power plant was one of the important components of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s policy to provide electricity in the country for the next several years. The Government decided to implement this project to address rising demands for power, particularly in view of the development goals set for the new millennium.

This project cost much less than the average thermal power plants that burn large quantities of oil for power generation. With the commissioning of the final stage today, the cost will reduce to Rs.14 a unit, quoting the Minister for Mass Media, Daily News reported.