Minister of Power and Energy Attorney Pavithra Wanniarachchi stated that the responsibility of implementing all decisions taken by the public representatives for the prosperity of the country is in the hands of the ministry officials.

Minister of Power and Energy Attorney Pavithra Wanniarachchi stated that the responsibility of implementing all decisions taken by the public representatives
for the prosperity of the country is in the hands of the ministry officials.

The minister pointed out that this responsibility implies from the lowest grade worker to the highest official. It is the responsibility of these officials to steer
their subordinates in the correct direction and work toward the prosperity of the country.

The minister made these comments addressing a ceremony to award mementos to the long serving employees of the power sector on 01 November 2013
at the BMICH in Colombo. During this ceremony 292 employees of the Ceylon Electricity Board who had completed 30 years of service received their tokens
of appreciation from the minister.

Addressing the gathering the minister said that a broad plan to produce low cost electricity has already been implemented under the instructions of the
President and it has helped place the power sector in a commanding position in the country.

She further pointed out that the dedicated service of the employees had been a great strength in fortifying the country’s progressive drive . “The around 16,000 employees of the CEB is rendering a great service to the country. However due to the irresponsible statements of certain officials,
there have been times when these dedicated employees had to face disrepute. The service rendered from the most minor staff to the highest official of the
CEB cannot be regarded lightly. I remember that not so long ago we faced an era where even the power stations, reservoirs and transformers had to be
guarded by the armed forces for fear of coming under attack. However today all that terror is behind us and we can all breathe a sigh of relief and live a
peaceful life. Today we do not need the armed forces to guard these installations but we are now constructing new power stations and erecting more power
lines instead,” added the minister.

In the past we were not able to even erect a power cable. But even after the end of the war the CEB employees had to face great challengers in order to
provide electricity to the people of the North. Our workers put their lives on the line in order to work on the Chunnakkam power project in order to provide
electricity to the Northern people. These employees had to brave through mined land, without water and even food at times in order to fulfil the pledge made
to the Northern people why requested electricity.

His Excellency the President has pledged to provide electricity to the entire country by 2014, and we can now rejoice that 94% of this electrification drive has
already been completed. “It is all of you who have put in your blood sweat and tears in order to achieve this goal. Under the able guidance of the Hon.
Minister Basil Rajapaksa the Broadland electrification project was inaugurated. We have also signed an agreement with India for the construction of the
Sampoor coal power station which will also enable us to produce low cost electricity. All of you gathered here today have rendered a great dedicated and
committed service to the country, and I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to all of you,” said minister Wanniarachchi.

The Chairman of the CEB W.B. Ganegala, private secretary to the ministry Kanchana Jayaratne, General Manager of the CEB Shavi Fernando and a large
gathering of CEB employees were present at this award ceremony.